LGBTQIA+ community concerned about GBV in South Africa

JOHANNESBURG - With gender-based violence an epidemic in South Africa, the LGBTQIA+ community has also raised concerns about how their challenges are handled.

Earlier in November, the Human Research Council released a report on gender-based violence saying that more than 7 million women in South Africa had experienced physical violence in their lifetime.

Michael van Niekerk, the founder of the online platform Keep the Energy, said that they received daily posts about GBV issues.

They said that cases of GBV were overlooked, while hate crimes persisted.

"On the ground, we do what we can do, but like I said, it feels like we are fighting a losing battle because we do not have the resources and the support that we do need."