Ga Rona Community Development Centre strengthens fight against GBV
The Ga Rona Community Development Centre continues to provide critical support to survivors of GBV while strengthening partnerships and outreach in Ekurhuleni.
Under chairperson Elias Mashegohe, the leadership of the Ga Rona Community Development Centre has continued to demonstrate strong governance and oversight, ensuring all deadlines set by the Gauteng Department of Social Development (GDSD) were timeously met.
The leadership team remained hands-on in addressing the organisation’s key responsibilities, including human resources matters and signing service level agreements for the Victim Empowerment Programme (VEP) and Victim Friendly Rooms (VFR) initiatives.
Ga Rona Community Development Centre director Aaron Maepa thanked the beneficiaries, partners and volunteers for their support.
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“It is not about me or the organisation, but about the communities we serve. I welcome everyone into the Ga Rona family, especially the new colleagues from the Ekurhuleni VFR. Together, we are committed to making a difference,” he said.
Maepa noted that the year had already been exceptionally busy, with staff and volunteers working tirelessly to support vulnerable groups in Thembisa, Crystal Park, Benoni, Actonville and Boksburg.
The organisation employs 26 personnel across its programmes, focusing primarily on supporting victims of GBVF.
Ga Rona continues to stress the importance of partnerships with the public and private sectors to expand its reach and impact.
The VEP, Ga Rona’s flagship programme, is funded by the GDSD for the 2025/26 financial year and based at the organisation’s Thembisa office.
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A team comprising a social worker, a social auxiliary worker, an office administrator, two GBV first responders, one volunteer and four students drives the programme.
Between April and June, the team provided psychosocial support services to 108 GBV victims. They reached 1 329 beneficiaries through campaigns promoting non-violence against women and children, including 365 Days of Activism.
Support groups for survivors of GBV have also been ongoing since April.
The Thembisa office continues to observe Orange Day on the 25th of each month, and in May, it hosted a Child Protection Week event in partnership with the National Prosecuting Authority, the SAPS, and the CoE.
The VFR are led by social worker Uadivha Makungo, with teams based in four police stations – Crystal Park, Benoni, Actonville and Boksburg.
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Operating in police stations, the VFR teams provide psychosocial support to survivors of GBV. During the first quarter, they assisted 306 survivors across the four service points.
Despite the challenges of navigating new environments, the VFR teams remained motivated and committed to serving their communities.
The Ga Rona Community Development Centre continues to play a vital role in Thembisa and the wider Ekurhuleni region.
By combining dedicated staff, volunteers and strong partnerships, the organisation provides critical support to GBV survivors while raising awareness and promoting prevention.
“We remain vulnerable as a society, but through the dedication of our teams, Ga Rona has become a vital support system in our communities,” Maepa said.
