Threat of women shelters in South Africa shutting down due to violence against women
Introduction
The threat of women’s shelters shutting down in South Africa due to violence against women is a critical issue that highlights the ongoing crisis of gender-based violence (GBV) in the country. This situation is exacerbated by inadequate funding, bureaucratic challenges, and a lack of support from both government and private sectors.
Current State of Women’s Shelters in South Africa
Funding Crisis
Fourteen out of twenty shelters that form part of the Western Cape Women’s Shelter Movement (WSM) face imminent closure if they don’t receive emergency funding. This dire situation is primarily due to insufficient funds to cover budget deficits after allocations from the Department of Social Development. One shelter might close by the end of December, while many others could only survive for two to three months.
Inadequate Government Support
The government’s funding for shelters is insufficient, inconsistent, and often conditional. For the 2022/23 financial year, the government allocated R178 million for 125 shelters across the country, which amounts to only about R1.4 million per shelter. This amount is inadequate to cover operational costs, staff salaries, and quality resources for women seeking help.
Capacity Issues
There are only 125 shelters nationwide that can accommodate 1,687 women, which is far from sufficient to meet the demand. This shortage severely limits options for women seeking to escape abusive situations.
Impact on Women and Society
Risk of Returning to Abusers
If shelters close, women might face primary abuse and trauma if forced to return to homes where perpetrators of gender-based violence live. This creates a dangerous cycle of violence and vulnerability.
Threat to Women’s Safety
The closure of shelters would directly affect about 310 people in 14 shelters in the Western Cape alone. Without these safe havens, women fleeing abuse would have limited options for protection and support.
Broader Societal Impact
Gender-based violence in South Africa affects not only the women themselves but also their children and society at large. It threatens women’s mental, physical, and reproductive health, increases homicide rates, contributes to the HIV/AIDS crisis, and places families at risk.
Challenges Faced by Shelters
Financial Struggles
Many shelters are unable to raise sufficient funds to cover their operational costs. For example, the Saartjie Baartman Centre for Women and Children in Cape Town, the largest shelter in South Africa, faces an annual funding deficit of R1.6 million.
Bureaucratic Hurdles
Shelters often have to comply with strict guidelines to remain eligible for government funding. These guidelines may include limiting the duration of women’s stay or complying with expensive health and safety regulations, which can be unrealistic and restrictive.
Staffing Issues
The financial instability leads to severe strain on staff. Some house mothers, responsible for running shelters and ensuring compliance with government regulations, earn meagre salaries that do not reflect the intensity of their work.
Call for Action
The National Shelter Movement of South Africa (NSMSA) is urgently calling for:
Immediate government intervention to address the funding crisis.
Recognition of shelters as an essential service within the national framework to fight against GBVF.
Improved collaboration with the GBV Fund to empower women’s organizations and shelters across the country.
Increased support from the private sector and philanthropic organizations.
Conclusion
The NSMSA emphasizes that shelters are not just safe havens but a critical component of South Africa’s social safety net for some of the country’s most vulnerable citizens. Without proper funding and support, the future of many shelters remains uncertain, potentially leaving countless women without a lifeline in their time of greatest need.
