Simelane says policies in place to prioritise survivors of GBV for RDP houses

Minister of Human Settlements Thembi Simelane says policies are in place to give survivors of gender-based violence (GBV) priority to RDP houses as government doubles down on efforts to address the GBV crisis.

This includes the special housing needs policy.

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Simelane's reassurance that survivors of GBV have not been sidelined comes amid repeated calls for government to declare GBV a state of national disaster.

The minister was speaking at the Young Women of Africa Miles for Change Summit in Polokwane on Sunday, saying the event is not a talk shop but a call to action.

The national special housing needs policy and programme is designed to provide housing for people with special needs who cannot live independently.

Simelane said the intervention seeks to offer a safe, supportive and protected living environment either on a permanent or temporary basis.

While government said it’s doing all it can to address the crisis, Simelane said the whole community needs to come together to help survivors.

"It has reached a stage where everyone is everyone's kid, if you harm her, we all pay, so don’t harm her. We need to reach that stage."

Last week, the National Disaster Management Centre rejected calls from advocacy group Women for Change to have GBV and femicide declared a national disaster.

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