Day 60/100
The NSPGBVF Pillar 1 aims to ensure accountability, coordination and leadership. The 100-Day Challenge team working in Sol Plaatje was initially looking at the lack of functioning referral pathways for survivors of GBV in the district but they have already started adjusting the goals they set themselves and are now primarily focused on reducing GBV hotspots by repairing the street and floodlights.
The team went out with the electrical team from Sol Plaatje Municipality and inspected 2 sectors where they found 48 broken and damaged floodlights which did not have cables due to cable theft. By ensuring that street lights are working, they believe it mitigates the risk of GBV happening in those areas. They are also looking at installing additional solar lights at the Cemetery.
Although the team is working well together, they are disappointed that the Department of Education and the Department of Social Development have not been participating. Administrative support is also an obstacle. A lot of work is being done.
Whilst they are cleaning the hot spots in the identified sectors, the behaviour in other sectors remains unchanged and cases in informal settlements are spiralling. There has been a marked increase in sexual assault and GBVF lately, so far there have been three cases of sexual violation and femicide in their area since the 100-Day Challenge began.
Civil Society organisations are monitoring the National Prosecuting Authority recruitment process of hiring site coordinators, and a case manager to support in addressing the backlog of rape cases. The Northern Cape Police station has also recruited safety officers to speed up services related to GBV, and NGOs have been providing support to victims and survivors.
Makhamuni Chauke, a social worker who is part of the Pillar 1 team, said she saw the 100-Day Challenges as a personal thing. “The reason why I’m saying ‘personal’, it’s something that shouldn’t be asked. It’s something that you should be willing to do out of your goodness or out of your willingness. So in terms of that, in our team, we make sure that we agree that we’re not doing it for ourselves. We’re doing it for the world. We are doing it for our kids, we’re doing it for our mothers and fathers. While we’re doing the campaign or while you’re working, find someone who also has a passion, bring them close to you and work with those people, unlike forcing someone who’s not there so they end up not doing the right or the proper work. Because this is love. 100 days love. We’re showing love. So find someone who has the same love that you have for what you’re doing and work with them. So the best idea or the best advice is find people who have the same love and then you walk together until the end of 100 days, because it’s not about 100 days only, but it’s to move forward with what we have started until I don’t know until then, but it doesn’t have to end on 100 days,” she said.
“All this work is important. And this exercise of having these challenges has helped us solidify the importance of having all hands on deck,” said Sibs Mthembu, Office of the President.
For questions or to arrange an interview with any of the team leaders, please contact Candice Ludick on [email protected] or 060 715 3607.