The new Gauteng ”one-stop” shelter for victims of domestic and sexual abuse is a remarkable initiative in the battle against such abuse. But cultural preconceptions may mean it is less effective than it could be.
The Ikhaya Lethemba (Place of Hope) centre, launched this week, offers not only a place for abused women and children to stay but also medical care, legal advice, counselling and training opportunities. It is an initiative of the Gauteng government’s Integrated Quality Social Services Strategy. Eskom donated an eight-storey building in Braamfontein, Johannesburg, and the centre will be able to house up to 200 people.
The project, said Gauteng minister for safety and liaison Nomvula Mokonyane at the launch, ”holds a great hope, both for the delivery of effective services and to ease the suffering of victims”. Vusi Mak-halemele, Ikhaya Lethemba executive director, said that ”Various agencies will provide a range of services for victims … [as] we prioritise the goal of ensuring a one-stop service for victims of domestic and sexual abuse.”
But a member of the National Institute for Crime Prevention and Integration of Offenders, one of the organisations supporting the shelter initiative, expressed concerns that if cultural issues are not dealt with, the shelter risks being ineffective. Shelters ”never seem to succeed, especially with African families … Victims eventually go back to their abusive partners. How will this centre be different? We are dealing with matters of the heart — that’s why we need mediation centres to resolve family disputes instead of hiding victims in safe havens. They end up repeating the circle of abuse.”
Lisa Vetten, gender programme manager at the Centre for the Study of Violence and Reconciliation, however, said such shelters ”are worthy for many victims of violence. A lot of women respond differently to safe havens — that’s why government needs to come up with various shelters that provide economic empowerment. Some [victims] would indeed go back to their partners because of financial dependence.” The new shelter, she said, is ”only the first step. We need to give it some time, to see how it succeeds before we can pass judgement.”
Mediation centres, said Colleen Lowe-Morna, director of Gender Links, do not work in cases where reconciliation is impossible. As for Ikhaya Lethemba, ”there are women out there whose lives are at stake. They need such centres for safety and counselling. No women would want to live in a safe haven for the rest of their lives. Each case is different. Not everyone needs to reconcile.”
The centre will provide training in business skills for women who need to acquire financial independence. The building will cost R20-million to renovate, and its opening is planned for next April.