Image: UCT News
Local – Despite the R5.1 billion in funding pledged by the Minister of Finance to fight gender-based violence and femicide (GBVF), Founder of Mgobozi Developmental Initiatives (MDI) and Feminist Activist Sibongile Pinky Mgobozi believes that it’s not enough to resource a comprehensive prevention strategy.
Mgobozi said additional resourcing would always be welcome, but it wasn’t just about throwing money at the problem. She said R3.8 billion was earmarked to employ 3,500 social workers and was presented as prevention, although social workers were typically brought in after harm had already occurred.
“We know, we all know at which point social workers come. Prevention is with education, prevention is with engaging communities.”
Fragmented Funding Hard To Trace
Questions remain about how much funding will reach frontline organisations, and what mechanisms will ensure it translates into measurable change. The pledge has renewed attention on the resources committed to tackling the crisis, as concerns persist over prevention, survivor support, accountability and access to justice.
Mgobozi said she could account for about R4.143 billion of the pledge, adding that the allocation was so fragmented it was difficult to trace whether money had been reallocated.
She said R157 million would go to the Department of Women, which had recently told Parliament’s portfolio committee that it had underspent and faced capacity challenges. Yet, the speech did not explain how it would be supported to spend and account for the money.
“What is important to South Africans is not how much you spend. What is important is saying did it have an impact? Did we get the results? Are we seeing gender-based violence decreasing?”
Community Organisations Left Out
Community-based organisations often provide support where state services are difficult to access, acting as a bridge between the state and survivors. Yet, many rely on fundraising from private institutions to keep going. Sustainable funding would allow these organisations to retain trained staff and deliver services without constantly having to go cap in hand.
Mgobozi said the speech also failed to address funding for community-based organisations, the municipal safety audits the President had called for, and alcohol education and addiction support.
She said money allocated to GBVF needed to be ring-fenced and called for investment in women’s education and economic empowerment.
“So if we are to deal with prevention, we need to have those conversations of saying how women are empowered to be self-sustaining? You know, my dad used to call it the power of the purse. How do you own your own purse and be able to know when it’s time to walk away and be equipped to walk away?”
