The Department of Community Safety, in Gauteng, has released a media statement that expresses their concerns of clients [victims] who refuse to leave the shelter when their time has lapsed. These victims of gender basedviolence are usually taken in by the department and provided with psycho-social and skills development services. After 6 months the victims are usually evaluated before being reintegrated back into society.
“It must be stated categorically that the shelter has a standing policy regarding the duration of the clients’ stay, access to psycho-social services, skills development programme as well as an exit plan. Clients are accommodated at the centre for a duration of six months as per contractual agreements. These clients have completed their pyscho-social and skills development programme and are ready to be re-integrated back into the society,” emphasized the Head of Department, Yoliswa Makhasi.
While in the shelter, victims receive counseling, medico legal support and skills development opportunities such asancilliary nursing, palliative care, child and youth care and home based care amongst others to equip them with the necessary skills to be self-dependant and sustainable. The department works in collaboration with the Institute of Health and Social Care Studies as well as the Johannesburg Institute for Education and Training in this regard.
“Since its inception in March 2003 the Ikhaya Lethembahas assisted over 16 800 female victims of gender based violence. Before the clients exit from the shelter, they are given a month’s notice and are assessed by social workers to determine their psycho-social capacity to be reintegrated back into society and also to establish their plans based on the skills they have obtained as well as how they are going to utilize them,” explained the Head of Department.
Makhasi concluded by stating that the shelter is not at liberty to accommodate clients for an extra period because more victims of gender based violence are in need of the same services that are offered by the shelter. In essenceIkhaya Lethemba is only required to intervene in a situation where the client is destitute and has nowhere to go.
