GBV support shelter to come to Delmas
The report said most of the rape cases were committed by people known to the victims, like family and friends.
Minister of Public Works and Infrastructure Dean MacPherson and Mpumalanga MEC Thulasizwe Thomo allocated 10 unused State-owned properties to the Department of Social Development (DSD) for conversion into GBV shelters.
According to the DSD, one property is in Delmas, five in Badplaas (eManzana), and four in Lothair.
“These properties would contribute to the national objective of establishing at least one shelter in every district, while also supporting the rollout of the Khuseleka One Stop Centres for comprehensive victim support,” said Teboho Sekaledi, the DA spokesperson on Public Works, Roads and Transport in Mpumalanga.
The party commended the national and provincial departments.
The latest statistics by Statistics South Africa and the Human Sciences Research Council show GBV cases are getting out of hand in SA because one in three women aged 16 and older has experienced physical violence, while one in five has faced sexual abuse.
“The report also states that 33.1% of women over the age of 18 in SA have reported being victims of physical violence in their lifetimes. The latest police report also shows that rape cases are increasing slightly in Mpumalanga.
“Altogether, 784 cases of rape were reported in the province in the last quarter from the period January to March 2025 – this is an increase as compared to the 774 reported in the same quarter of 2024.”
The report said most of the rape cases were committed by people known to the victims, like family and friends.
“We hope allocating the 10 properties provides critical support to survivors of rape also.”
The DA said it welcomed this allocation because it would provide a safe and supportive environment for victims and survivors of GBV to form their support base where they would comfort and help each other through their ordeal.
“We hope that the Provincial Department of Social Development will provide counselling services and medical and legal assistance in these shelters should there be a need for such services.”
