The DA will write to the MEC of the Department of Social Development to request the full Provincial Strategic Plan on Gender-Based Violence and Femicide (PSP-GBVF) to scrutinise its contents. Despite being launched on 19 February 2025, the Provincial Legislature has yet to receive the full plan, raising serious concerns about its feasibility.
With GBVF cases reaching crisis levels, including rapes, brutal murders, and child abductions, it is imperative that this plan is more than just a symbolic gesture.
While the launch of the Mpumalanga GBVF Council and PSP-GBVF on 19 February 2025 was initially welcomed, critical details about its funding, implementation, and oversight remain unclear. Without a clear implementation strategy, the PSP-GBVF risks becoming yet another hollow commitment rather than a practical solution to the GBVF crisis. Meanwhile, NGOs supporting survivors are struggling due to funding shortfalls, further jeopardising efforts to combat GBVF effectively.
To make matters worse, many non-governmental organisations (NGOs) that provide essential support services for GBV survivors are already struggling due to funding shortfalls. The withdrawal of support from UNAID has left several organisations at risk of closing, threatening to disrupt vital services such as counselling, shelter, and legal assistance. Without having full insight into the PSP-GBVF, there is a growing concern that it may not adequately address how these funding gaps will be filled, raising serious doubts about its long-term sustainability and effectiveness.
Once the full plan is made available, the DA will assess the feasibility, funding allocations, and implementation strategies outlined in the plan, ensuring that it effectively addresses the GBVF crisis in Mpumalanga.
The DA has long called for stronger law enforcement, increased funding for victim support services, and independent oversight to ensure accountability.
We will take the following steps to ensure the PSP-GBVF is not just another empty promise:
- Demand the full PSP-GBVF document from the MEC of Social Development.
- Conduct oversight visits to GBV shelters and crisis centres.
- Table parliamentary questions on the plan’s funding and execution.
- Engage with civil society and law enforcement to track cases and ensure victims receive support.
- Push for increased funding for NGOs assisting GBV survivors.
We urge victims and those aware of GBV incidents to report cases via Crime Stop (08600 10111) or https://gbv.org.za/reportcase/.
The DA will not allow the Mpumalanga government to turn a blind eye to this crisis. We will fight to ensure real action, real accountability, and real protection for survivors.