Health
With regard to the Premier’s pronouncement in his SOPA 2022 that his government plans to create a dedicated Violence Prevention Unit in the Western Cape’s Department of Health:
(a) Where will this unit be housed in her Department, (b) what will be its powers and functions, (c) how many staff members will be employed, (d)(i) how much will be budgeted for it and (ii) where will the budget come from, (e) how does it aim to prevent violence in the province and (f) what programmes will it run, including daily tasks
(a) This has yet to be finalised, but it is being considered that the unit should straddle the Strategic Cluster and Emergency and Clinical Support Services within the Department of Health.
(b) The unit is envisaged to have three main roles:
1. Data and analytics
2. Policy and Planning
3. Implementation support- This will involve coordination of area-based teams. These are cross sectional teams responsible for reducing violence in a geographic area.
(c) This is still to be finalised based on the allocated budget, but we have planned for 8-10 dedicated staff.
(d) (i) R10 million rand has been allocated, for this financial year.
(ii) The Provincial Treasury has allocated the budget for this project.
(e) The VPU will utilize data and evidence, develop policy, and work with relevant stakeholders at the local geographic level to implement measures to reduce violence. Implementation can occur at different geographic levels, with different time horizons and through different Departments. It is critical to note that this will not only involve the Department of Health. As a start, this will be a collaborative effort with all of government.
(f) The Violence Prevention Unit will have 3 main functions
1. Data and analytics
2. Policy and Planning
3. Implementation support
The daily activities have not yet been finalised.
