Social Development
(1) To what extend does her Department (a) have awareness programmes to create social cohesion with and acceptance of this community in society, (b) have an existing relation with NGOs and civil society to buffer the prejudice of and hate crimes often committed against this community and (c) explore safe houses and social services for members of this community;
(2) (a) how much of the 2021/22 budget has been allocated to programmes and initiatives in protection, aid and support of people in the LGBTQIA+ community, (b) how has she supported this community in her term, (c) what are the policy priorities of her Department in this regard and (d) what support services does her Department offer to the transgender community?
(1) a) The Department of Social Development has partnered with the Triangle Project, a Non-Profit Organisation (NPO) that focus on providing services to the LGBTQIA+ community and facilitates awareness programmes to the Department’s social workers as well as other funded partners of the Department.
b) The Department’s Victim Empowerment Programme also partners with the Triangle Project to render psycho-social services to members of LGBTQIA+ community who have been victims of crime - support includes court order serivces and therapeutic support.
c) All shelters have been sensitised to provide safe accommodation for LGBTQIA+ victims, with dedicated beds at a shelter situated in the Metro. Furthermore, the Department has also identified additional bed spaces in the rural areas, which will take in new admissions in the new financial year.
(2) a) The budget for the 2021/2022 Financial Years is R 62 008 000.
b) Minister Fernandez has helped developed LGBTQIA sensitizing workshops for staff and community members. Additional funding has been allocated for support victim support services for the LGBTQIA community and other victims of gender-based violence. During the COVID-19 Hard Lockdown, telephonic services were made available to this grouping in light of the restrictions on movement imposed by the public under the Disaster Management Act.
c) The National Strategic Plan on Gender Based Violence and Femicide (GBVF) states that members of the LGBTQIA+ community forms part of the vulnerable group which has been identified as a priority. Moreover, the Western Cape Government GBV Implementation plan has included LGBTIQA+ victims as a vulnerable group.
d) The wide array of essential services being offered by the Triangle Project, with the support of the provincial Department of Social Development include counselling and support services for survivors of violence, health and support for LGBTQIA+ community living with HIV, support for LGBTQIA +parents and parents of LGBTI children, and support for transgender and gender non-conforming people.
The Department of Social Development Victim Empowerment Programme supported by its service providers in the Western Cape offers a variety of services to support victims which include:
- Ensuring that victims receive emotional and practical support,
- Assisting victims with the management of trauma,
- Ensuring that victims are educated to identify the symptoms of post-traumatic stress,
- Referring victims to professional services where necessary,
- Provision of court support services during the criminal justice process is dealt with efficiently,
- Promoting the rights and responsibilities of victims through advocacy,
- Ensuring that victims are aware of their rights,
- Ensuring that ongoing victimisation is prevented and
- Providing a shelter service.
The provincial Department of Social Development currently funds 20 shelters in the Western Cape that can accommodate victims and their children for up to 3 months, and 4 emergency shelters that accommodate victims for up to 3 weeks.
Shelters also provide for basic needs that include safe accommodation, protection, food, clothing and emotional support such as trauma debriefing and therapeutic counselling provided by a social worker. To assist with reintegration, victims are also provided with skills development opportunities to assist with the economic empowerment of the victim.
