Crisis centre supports 120 victims despite funding strain
Centre honours founder while serving survivors:
Figures revealed at the Newcastle Crisis Centre’s recent annual general meeting showed the centre had assisted a total of 120 gender-based violence victims over the past financial year.
The 2025/26 financial year had been a challenging period for the shelter.
Despite challenges, social worker Nomvelo Buthelezi said the centre remained committed to providing support, counselling and temporary safe accommodation to all victims of domestic violence, gender-based violence and other forms of abuse and crime.
“Through dedication, teamwork and continued support, the centre has continued to serve vulnerable women and children in need of safety and psychosocial support,” she said.
Buthelezi, who was recently appointed at the centre, reported that between April and September 2025, the centre had opened its doors to 74 victims of sexual assault, abuse and domestic violence.
Despite many challenges in the field, Buthelezi said one of the most meaningful achievements during the past year was the positive feedback received from survivors after being discharged from the centre.
Centre honours founder’s legacy
Chairperson Morris Gajoo said the past year had been a year of deep emotional transition, incredible resilience and significant structural challenges.
“Our hearts remain heavy as we look around the room and feel the physical absence of our beloved founder, manager and ultimate stalwart, Mary Dobbie, who passed away on 15 July,” he said.
He continued: “Although she is no longer sitting with us, her profound legacy of empathy and justice remains the DNA of this shelter. Mary, your life’s work continues through our hands.”
Gajoo said there was a strong mandate from management to rename the centre the Mary Dobbie Crisis Centre.
However, as an established organisation, heavily reliant on public funding, this transition required careful legal and institutional navigation.
Funding challenges threaten 24-hour service
Gajoo said the centre continued to provide 24-hour services as gender-based violence remained a crisis within the Amajuba District.
“We continue handling high volumes of cases on a monthly basis, which prove the shadow pandemic of domestic abuse has not slowed down,” he said.
However, Gajoo said they still continued to celebrate the women who had been able to break the cycle of abuse and successfully restart their lives.
He further discussed the various challenges of the new Department of Social Development (DSD) funding policies and how this could possibly affect the centre’s operations, but said to mitigate these challenges the centre needed to diversify its revenue streams.
Barbara Schwab then read the manager’s report, which focused on thanking the various donors and sponsors for their continued help over the past year, before the new committee was elected.
The 2025 management committee was announced as follows: (chairperson) Morris Gajoo, (vice-chairperson) Barbara Schwab, (treasurer) Margaret Anderson and (secretary) Cornalee van der Westhuizen.
The centre’s committee thanked Newcastle and the community for their unwavering support and generous donations throughout the year.
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