GBV Command Centre calls jump 21% as fear grows over women's deaths in Ekurhuleni

Calls to South Africa’s GBV Command Centre surged to 589 in a single day as demand for support climbed sharply in September.

South Africa’s Gender-Based Violence Command Centre received 589 calls in a single day, the highest daily number recorded during the first half of September, as demand for support amid the country’s GBV crisis climbed sharply.

The Department of Social Development said the 24-hour helpline recorded the 589 calls on September 16, following a sharp rise in people reaching out for assistance between September 13 and 16.

During those four days, the centre received about 500 calls a day, compared with an average of 399 daily calls during the first 12 days of the month.

The spike comes amid heightened concern over violence against women, including in Gauteng’s Ekurhuleni District, where the department said reports indicated that nine women had been found dead since the previous week.

Preliminary figures show the command centre received 6,782 calls between September 1 and 16, an average of 424 calls a day.

That represents a 21% increase compared with the same period in August, when the centre recorded an average of 350 calls a day.

“The Department of Social Development has recorded a significant increase in gender-based violence-related calls to its 24-hour Gender-Based Violence Command Centre, amid heightened public attention on gender-based violence and femicide,” the department said.

While the figures point to growing demand for assistance, the department cautioned against immediately interpreting the increase as evidence of a sustained rise in GBV incidents.

“While the preliminary figures indicate increased demand for the GBV Command Centre's services, further monitoring and analysis are required to determine whether this represents a sustained trend in GBV-related incidents and calls for assistance,” it said.

The surge in calls comes as concern mounts over the safety of women following a string of murders in Ekurhuleni.

The department said concern over violence against women and the fear experienced by women in communities had become “particularly pronounced” in the district.

“This concern has been particularly pronounced in the Ekurhuleni District in Gauteng Province, following reports that nine women have been found dead in the district since last week,” the department said.

“These incidents have further intensified calls for urgent and co-ordinated action to address GBVF.”