Approximately one year after gender-based violence and femicide were recognized as a national catastrophe, the South African shelter sector notes that the response remains too slow, and many organizations assisting survivors are struggling to survive.
The National Shelter Movement of South Africa (NSMSA) will hold its Sixth National Indaba from September 15 to 17, 2026. The event will gather representatives of the country's shelter sector at a critical moment in response to the issue of Gender-Based Violence and Femicide (GBVF) in South Africa.
This movement supports about 100 shelters across the country and reports that approximately 90% of them are experiencing difficulties with funding and other forms of support, despite providing vital services on the front lines to survivors.
The holding of the Indaba takes place almost a year after GBVF was classified as a national catastrophe, raising questions about whether the urgency reflected in this classification has translated into tangible support for organizations working directly with survivors.
NSMSA emphasized that speaking of GBVF as a national catastrophe requires understanding what it means for a woman trying to escape violence. The organization highlighted that survivors need more than just temporary housing.
Shelters often provide comprehensive services, including legal aid, counseling, mental health support, and care for children who have also been subjected to violence.
NSMSA calls on civil society, policymakers, sponsors, researchers, media, community leaders, and the public to join the Indaba online. The event will be broadcast through the organization's social media platforms.
The goal of the event is to move the discussion of GBVF beyond statistics and daily headlines, focusing instead on the real challenges faced by survivors and the organizations supporting them. The program will review the progress made in fulfilling commitments and resolutions since the first National Indaba in 2020.
Discussions will include the role of the National Council on GBVF, community responses to violence, protection orders, mental health support for shelter workers, financial empowerment for survivors, and the state of shelters in South African provinces. Furthermore, the program will examine specialized support for boys affected by sexual violence and inter-sectoral collaboration in responding to GBVF.
The main focus of this year's Indaba will be the long-term support needed for survivors to transition from immediate survival to sustainable social and economic independence. Financial empowerment will be discussed, aligning with the theme of Women's Month 2026: 'Empowered women empower the nation.'
The appointment of Dr. Zubedy Dangor, head of the NSMSA executive committee, to the National Council on GBVF is also expected to strengthen the link between the experiences of frontline shelter workers and national policy. The organization believes this appointment creates an opportunity to examine whether national commitments lead to practical improvements for survivors across the country.
One of the most pressing issues raised by NSMSA is the financial pressure experienced by shelters. According to the organization, shelter teams are often forced to divide their time between helping survivors and fundraising to maintain their organizations' operations.
NSMSA noted that 'it is disheartening that shelter teams have to divert from their core work with survivors to focus on fundraising, which has also become an integral part of the job.' The organization estimates that housing one person in a shelter costs approximately 300 South African Rand (R) per day to cover accommodation and support services. This includes food, hygiene items, utilities, maintenance, water and electricity, as well as counseling and skills development programs.
NSMSA asserts that fundraising cannot replace an adequately funded national response. As South Africa continues to face the devastating impact of GBVF, the Sixth National Indaba must ask a crucial question: if GBVF is recognized as a national catastrophe, what happens next for survivors and the shelters working to protect them?
The Indaba will take place from September 15 to 17, 2026, and will be broadcast on the National Shelter Movement of South Africa's social media platforms.