The metro is marshalling its strategic partners and social services resources to bring a halt to gender-based violence spiralling out of control.
It has been observed recently across the country, and in Ekurhuleni, that women and other vulnerable members of society have been victims of gender-based and other forms of violence.
The metro’s social workers, based at the customer care centres, are adequately able to deal with issues faced by victims of abuse.
They provide counselling where necessary, place survivors at places of safety run by non-governmental organisations and link them with the police where there is a need to open a case.
The metro is also working on upgrading the recently launched services app called My Ekurhuleni App to add a functionality to report cases of abuse for the metro to intervene.
Residents are urged to call the Gender-Based Violence (GBV) National Command Centre on the 24-hour toll-free number 0800 428 428.
Alternatively, people can USSD (Please Call Me) *120* 7867# or send an SMS with the word “help” to 31531.
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When a survivor calls the centre from a mobile phone, the caller (with explicit permission), is geographically located, enabling the GBV Command Centre to determine the caller’s closest resources (social worker, police station, hospital, safe house).
The metro commemorated Women’s Month last Saturday at Germiston Lake.
The women’s event was another initiative to give women a platform to propel themselves forward and draw from the strength of their peers to withstand challenges common to women.
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