Calls to South Africa's Gender-Based Violence Command Centre have sharply increased, reaching 589 calls in a single day in September, reflecting the growing demand for support amid the crisis of gender-based violence in the country.
The Department of Social Development reported that the 24-hour hotline registered 589 calls on September 16, following a significant rise in the number of people seeking help between September 13 and 16. During these four days, the centre received approximately 500 calls daily, which is higher than the monthly average of 399 calls per day for the first twelve days of the month.
This surge occurred against a backdrop of heightened concern regarding violence against women, particularly in the Ekurhuleni district of Gauteng province, where the department reported nine women had died in the previous week.
Nearly 6800 Calls in 16 Days
Preliminary data indicates that the command centre received 6782 calls from September 1 to September 16, averaging 424 calls per day. This demonstrates a 21% increase compared to the same period in August, when the average number of calls was 350 per day.
The Department of Social Development noted a substantial rise in calls related to gender-based violence to its 24-hour Gender-Based Violence Command Centre, linked to increased public attention on gender-based violence and femicides.
However, the department cautioned against premature conclusions that the increase signifies a sustained rise in cases of gender-based violence, emphasizing the need for further monitoring and analysis to determine if this represents a stable trend.
Deaths in Ekurhuleni Heighten Concerns
The rise in calls coincides with growing anxiety over women's safety following a series of murders in Ekurhuleni. The department stated that concerns about violence against women and the fears experienced by women in communities have become 'particularly pronounced' in this district.
