The Gauteng Department of Social Development is strengthening its response to GBVF through specialised training to improve support for survivors and their families.

The department recently hosted a Conference on Trauma-Informed Care at the Springs Civic Centre in the Eastern Corridor, bringing together social workers and other professionals working under the Victim Empowerment Programme (VEP).

The conference focused on strengthening the capacity of frontline officials to provide effective psychosocial and therapeutic support to victims of GBV and their families.

The initiative forms part of the department’s mandate to oversee the implementation of Pillar 4 of the National Strategic Plan on Gender-Based Violence and Femicide (GBVF) 2020–2030, which focuses on response, care, support and healing.

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Director for Victim Empowerment Programme and Social Crime Prevention, Khanyisile Mathebula, said the pillar aims to ensure GBVF survivors receive appropriate, sensitive and victim-centred services.

“Pillar 4 seeks to ensure that survivors of GBVF receive appropriate, sensitive and victim-centred services that support immediate containment while facilitating medium- to long-term healing and recovery,” she said.

Mathebula said the VEP works with several stakeholders across the criminal justice and health sectors, including the Department of Justice and Constitutional Development, National Prosecuting Authority, SAPS, Department of Community Safety and Department of Health.

These departments assist in identifying and referring victims to the department’s GBV social workers and funded NPOS providing services at Thuthuzela Care Centres, Victim Friendly Rooms, men’s programmes, shelters, magistrates’ courts and other service points.

“The programme is guided by key legislation, including the Domestic Violence Act 116 of 1998 and the Criminal Law (Sexual Offences and Related Matters) Amendment Act 32 of 2007, as well as national policy frameworks governing women’s empowerment, crime prevention and the provision of psychosocial support services to victims of GBV,” Mathebula said.

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She said the conference was informed by the National Policy on the Provision of Psychosocial Support Services to Victims of GBV, which recognises the significant impact trauma and social factors can have on victims’ thoughts, emotions and behaviour.

The training followed monitoring of the VEP, which identified a need to further strengthen therapeutic and psychosocial support services provided by social workers at various service points across the province.

“The training aims to equip social workers with practical knowledge and skills to provide effective counselling and trauma-informed interventions to victims and their families,” said Mathebula.

Key areas covered included understanding trauma, different forms of trauma associated with domestic violence and sexual offences, how trauma manifests, and therapeutic approaches that can be used by social workers.

The programme also explored therapy for individuals, couples and families, with particular attention given to how trauma can affect family relationships and dynamics.

Psychologist and occupational therapist Dr Marcia Zikhali supported the conference by providing specialised expertise on the complex emotional, psychological and social needs of GBV survivors.

The training also emphasised the importance of effective referral systems to ensure victims can access assistance from the criminal justice system and other community resources.

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Officials were further reminded of the importance of interviewing victims in private, safe, conducive and comfortable environments.

The conference also highlighted the need to provide social workers with adequate support and debriefing to reduce the risk of burnout and secondary trauma.

A key principle of the programme is ensuring that victims and their families remain active participants in the healing process.

“Victim-centred services are essential in promoting healing, restoring dignity and empowering survivors to rebuild their lives. Psychosocial support therefore seeks not only to address the negative emotions associated with trauma, but also to instil hope, resilience and a sense of psychosocial wellbeing,” said Zikhali.

The department said it remains committed to strengthening programmes and interventions that place the needs, safety and healing of victims and their families at the centre of service delivery.

Through initiatives such as the Trauma-Informed Care Conference, the department aims to strengthen the skills of frontline officials and partnerships within the VEP to ensure survivors receive compassionate, professional and effective support throughout their journey towards healing.