A gender-based violence (GBV) non-profit organisation (NPO) will provide services to the townships of Diepsloot, Alexandra, Thembisa, Honeydew, Mamelodi, and Soweto, among others.
This comes after loveLife, an NPO that promotes youth healthcare, partnered up with Sasol Energy to address gender-based violence and femicide (GBVF) in Gauteng.
According to the National Library of Medicine, one woman gets raped every three hours in South Africa and GBV is a widespread and common occurrence in the country, deeply ingrained in homes, workplaces, cultures and traditions.
National pandemic
In 2020, President Cyril Ramaphosa declared GBV a pandemic.
LoveLife is a three-year effort that also aims to raise awareness and offer care and support to victims.
Doctor Doreen Kosi, acting chief executive officer at loveLife, said from July 8 and until July 12, the mobile unit will be in operation Monday to Friday, alternating between the six locations.
“These centres provide educational, recreational, and sexual health services, aligning with the World Health Organisation’s definition of youth health as a state of complete physical, mental, and social wellbeing,” said Kosi.
She stated that they partnered up with Sasol to extend their reach and impact significantly.
“By combining our expertise with Sasol’s commitment to social impact, we can make a difference in the fight against GBVF and support especially young people in their journey towards a safer and healthier life.”
Support and counselling
In this initiative, Sasol will support loveLife’s new mobile unit, which will provide GBVF victims and their families with free, private, and inclusive support, counselling, educational opportunities, and healthcare services.
A licenced nurse and a counsellor will be working in the unit.
“There is an urgent need to address toxic social norms and gender inequality that increase the prevalence of gender-based violence and femicide in a country that has been identified as one of the most violent places in the world,” said Zanele Hadebe, vice president for marketing at Sasol Energy.
Hadebe said that giving full psychosocial support to individuals whose lives have been destroyed by GBVF is equally crucial.
“We are honoured to work with loveLife to address GBVF in some of the most impacted areas, promoting safer settings, raising awareness, and eventually assisting in the prevention of GBVF.”
