Stop Gender Based Violence

The Gender-Based Violence Command Centre operates under The Department of Social Development.

The Centre operates a National, 24hr/7days-a-week Call Centre facility.

• • The facility employs social workers who are responsible for call-taking and call referrals.
  • Contact a social worker on the energency line number 0800 428 428.
  • You can also send a “please call me” facility: *120*7867#.
  • A Skype Line ‘Helpme GBV’for members of the deaf community also exists. (Add ‘Helpme GBV’ to your Skype contacts).
  • An SMS Based Line 31531 for persons with disabilities (SMS ‘help’ to 31531) also exists.
  • The Centre is able to refer calls directly to SAPS (10111)and field Social Workers who respond to victims of GBV.

The Gender-Based Violence Command Centre team consist of:

• • The Centre employs 48 Social Work Agents,
  • 8 Social Work Supervisors,
  • 4 Quality Assurers and 1 Centre Manager, to operate and offer services to victims of Gender Based Violence.

As support to the GBVCC telephonic trauma counselling, the Department of Social Development has conceived and launched a National Emergency Response Team (NERT) to pilot a national rapid response approach to provision of psychosocial services following incidents of trauma. Provincial DSD takes over after the initial three-day rapid response.