By Akani Nkuna
As part of the 16 Days of Activism for No Violence Against Women and Children campaign, Human Settlements Minster Mmamoloko Kubayi has handed over houses to vulnerable women and survivors of gender-based violence, providing refuge from their previously traumatic living conditions.
“We want to see women empowerment becoming a reality. We are committed as the Department of Human Settlements as is evident from us addressing gender-based violence and handing over the houses to women today,” Kubayi said on Monday.
She said that effectively addressing GBV required a multifaceted approach, extending beyond the provision of housing to encompass empowerment initiatives that fostered women’s self-sufficiency.
“We as a department, our work is not only about handing out houses only on empowering women, but we empower them economically; giving them projects. We have agreed on 40% set aside in the portfolio which amounts to R11 billion,” she told the community at Helderwyk Housing project in Ekurhuleni.
Kubayi stressed that GBV was often perpetuated by a woman’s economic dependence on her partner. This limited the ability of women to escape abusive relationships, therefore, empowering them with financial independence through jobs and income generation was crucial.
Ekurhuleni mayor Nkosindiphile Xhakaza noted that it was deeply disturbing that the country continued to grapple with an alarming rate of GBV, intensified by escalating incidents and the ongoing mistreatment of children.
“Once more we are called to drum up support to fight off the pain and cruelty inflicted on many of our women and children. It remains a tragedy that we still have so many victims of GBV in South Africa,” he said.
Gauteng human settlements MEC Tasneem Motara said that the campaign along with all its symbolic gestures encouraged action against GBV and “serves a reminder of our collective responsible to protect the most vulnerable in society”.
One of the beneficiaries, Merriam Mokoena, 73, cautioned women against enduring abusive relationships. She reassured women that a far more fulfilling and empowering life was attainable.
Mokoena spoke from experience, saying she had wasted so much of her life on an abusive partner.
“Women let us appreciate the gesture by the government to hand us houses. Let us not run back to the very dark pits that we were before we got rescued. Let us not invite the same men who abused us, kicked us out of their houses to live with them here,” she said.
“Women be careful of men of today who have no sympathy. They will deceive you and lie to you that that they love, and some even go as far as proposing marriage all because they want to rob you of your house.”
Meanwhile, Kubayi set the record straight that municipalities did not allocate government houses to undocumented foreign nationals by exploiting the identities of eligible citizens.
She said where this happened, the rule of law would be applied.
“We do not give illegal foreign nationals houses, this is why as a department we are trying to clean up [corrupt individuals], so that those selling these RDP houses can also be arrested,” she said.
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