Without help these shelters will close within weeks

As the country marks the start of 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence (GBV), two Cape Town shelters for abused women may have to close down if they don’t secure funding soon.

The Saartjie Baartman Centre for Women and Children in Manenberg and St Anne’s Homes in Woodstock have made public pleas for emergency funding to keep their shelters’ doors open.

She said the centre, which opened in 1999, only gets 29% of its funding from the Department of Social Development (DSD) which itself is currently facing “financial constraints”.

“It’s an ongoing battle. I spend an enormous amount of my time trying to raise funds. The funders themselves are tightening their belts and are unable to commit to [the amounts] they did in the past,” she said.

Bachar added that the centre also hosted smaller fundraisers, like high teas. But these, she said, barely made a dent in the costs needed to run the organisation.

On 23 November, Police Minister Bheki Cele presented the country’s second quarter crime statistics for 2022/2023. Between July and September, 989 women were murdered and 1 277 were victims in attempted murder cases. Cases reported to the police also reveal that more than 13 000 women were victims of assault with intent to cause grievous bodily harm (GBH).

A total of 558 children were killed between April and September 2022. Police investigated 294 attempted murder dockets involving children from July to September 2022 and 1 895 assault GBH cases.

In response to the crime stats, Bachar said the numbers did not accurately reflect what was happening on the ground because only a small percentage of women who experience violence report it.

The number of walk-in clients to the centre differs daily but Bachar estimated that they see between 40 and 50 women who seek help each week.

The centre currently houses 108 women at a cost of R4 000 per person each month.

“With all our programmes, we run a minimum of R500 000 deficit every month,” said Bachar.

The last time the Saartjie Baartman Centre was in a financial crisis was in 2018. Bachar said they had to do a “furious media campaign” and “tighten” expenses.

St Anne’s Homes director Joy Lange said:

Lange said funding from the DSD also only covers 29% of their annual budget, and this is paid quarterly so they will only receive the funds in January 2023.

With 21 bed spaces, St Anne’s Homes needs R300 000 per month to keep operating, Lange said.

Western Cape social development department spokesperson Monique Mortlock-Malgas said: “The department is facing financial constraints and therefore appeals to the private sector to also get involved and empower women and children in the shelters.”

She said that the department’s Victim Empowerment Programme (VEP) currently funds 26 shelters in the Western Cape.

“The VEP transfer budget for the 2022/2023 financial year is R62 866 000, of which 52% is spent on shelter services,” Mortlock-Malgas added.