By Lebone Rodah Mosima
The City of Johannesburg will target interventions against gender-based violence and femicide (GBVF) mainly in disadvantaged areas, backed by gender-responsive budgeting, Executive Mayor Dada Morero said on Friday.
Morero said the strategy would sit alongside improvements in infrastructure and service delivery, economic opportunities and survivor support, while municipal departments and the Johannesburg Metropolitan Police Department (JMPD) were instructed to strengthen their interventions.
“The city seeks to ensure inclusivity through gender-responsive budgeting based on the needs and aspirations of its people and communities at the local level,” Morero said.
He was addressing a GBV engagement with City inspectors at FNB Stadium in Johannesburg.
The City has identified eight areas for implementation: community outreach and awareness; prevention and social cohesion; skills development; inclusive economic empowerment; GBVF survivor support; housing and human settlements; intergovernmental relations and accountability; and partnerships.
Morero said the City needed to consolidate its response to GBV, as municipal employees were often directly exposed to communities through their daily work.
“This fight is real. It calls on us to act, because we are the closest sphere of government to the people. We must intensify our efforts and intervene. More than 33 000 women and men work for the City of Johannesburg. Our job is service delivery, which means we are in people’s homes, workplaces, and places of entertainment. We are government, and our task is to govern,” he said.
“The South African Police Service indicates that Johannesburg is ranked amongst the highest nationally for Gender-Based Violence (GBV) and sexual offences. We are classified as hotspots. This narrative must change because Johannesburg is the place we call home. It is the land of opportunity. Economic growth depends on our ability to build safe communities.”
Morero emphasised the importance of partnerships between the City, law enforcement, government departments and community organisations.
“I want us to focus on the partnership area, because we will not go far alone.”
He instructed JMPD to ensure that national procedures for dealing with GBVF cases at public-facing institutions were followed in Joburg.
“You must never let your guard down and ensure that the national process flow established for GBVF case handling at all public-facing institutions, such as police stations, clinics, and courts, is adhered to and implemented in the City.”
He also instructed the City’s Department of Social Development to ensure its standardised GBVF response protocol, derived from the Presidential GBVF report and the National Strategic Plan on Gender-Based Violence and Femicide, was implemented.
“Our established partnerships with community organisations, stakeholder groups, and other interest groups help us reach out to and educate community members and leaders on matters, opportunities, and challenges related to the department’s fight against GBVF within the City. The taxi association has come forward. Let us embrace this support.”
Morero said partnerships should also provide training and skills to GBVF survivors and members of the LGBTQIA+ community on active prevention techniques.
He told City inspectors to use their work in communities to distribute information about GBVF.
“Every time you inspect a building, share information that educates and makes the community aware of GBVF. By sharing information, you could be saving a life.”
Morero said the City could no longer treat GBVF as an issue outside its direct responsibilities.
“We cannot stand back any longer. We are part of the security ecosystem of South Africa. Together we cannot fail. Let us be reminded that the GDS Joburg 2040 tasks us to improve the quality of life and development-driven resilience for all.”
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