Page 25 - SCAT GBV Report - Addressing Gender-Based Violence - 2021

The savings and credit groups are meant to support the victims of domestic violence, because most of the perpetrators are the ones who are supporting the victims [financially]. We introduced this programme to assist the victims to be independent in terms of finances.
Tembakazi Mthembu, PSJAC.
Providing only counselling doesn’t help. You have to empower women with skills so that they can see that they can stand on their own and not depend on men. So, we tried to destroy that syndrome of dependence so that they can have their value and dignity back.
Phumla Gojela, CARE.
Now the women stand for themselves as they can’t depend on their men. They know how to save the money and they know they can do things by themselves. They don’t wait for their man to give them the money.
Kefuwe Mabote, MFAO.
Economic empowerment strategies (including access to credit, social grants, housing and land), have the potential to expand survivors’ choices and protect their livelihoods, following situations of violence and abuse. Furthermore, improving a person’s economic status makes it more possible for them to escape exploitative relationships. Breaking economic dependence on intimate partners means that survivors are able to escape the cycle of domestic violence. At the level of household income and distribution, LDAs are also concerned with how decisions on consumption and spending are negotiated. As this pathway shows, increasing women’s capacities and opportunities for self-controlled income generation, participation in local economies, and access to financing and grants, are geared towards systemic change.
Left to right: Sofia Ried, Elisma Louw, Elizabeth Baum, Angelina Thomas and
Magdeline Bosiame of KSDF in Danielskuil, strategising about their work in
the advice office.
“Finish this Elephant”: Rural Community Organisations’ Strategic Approaches to Addressing GBV 25