ORANGE FARM. – Previously, residents had complained that the police were not doing enough to curb crime in the area.

A Green Door is a safe site that is situated within five kilometres to the local police station that offer victims of GBV services such as emotional containment, trauma debriefing and referral to the nearest police station to open a case.

During the launch, Mazibuko explained that the Green Door did not offer overnight accommodation for victims, but offered a place of safety for victims while they  to be assisted  by police.

The launch forms part of Gauteng Provincial Government’s response towards the fight against Gender-based Violence and Femicide (GBVF).

According to the Department of Community Safety, Orange Farm is listed amongst the top 30 GBV hotspots in the country and recently recorded the highest number of reported incidents of violence perpetrated against women and children in the province.

Green Door Ambassador Thabile Sibiya says, “We urge the community of Orange Farm to support us especially people who are here, they should spread the word about the Green Door so that victims of Gender-based Violence can get help.”

Mazibuko says, “Many victims of the Gender-based Violence are now breaking the silence because of the GBV Brigades who are leading a door to door campaign reaching out to the victims. We encourage women to report the abuse that is taking place in various churches.”

Mazibuko said that up to 40 000 households had been visited by GBV Brigades adding that this was helping more victims to come forward and report matters of abuse.