GBVF shelters face funding strain as national Indaba approaches

Nearly a year after gender-based violence and femicide was deemed a national disaster in South Africa, the shelter sector is facing significant funding challenges, according to the National Shelter Movement of South Africa (NSMSA). With the NSMSA hosting its Sixth National Shelter Indaba from September 15 to 17, 2026, concerns are rising about whether the federal government's response has kept pace with the urgency of the situation.

Around 90% of the 100 shelters supported by the NSMSA are struggling to maintain operations due to inadequate funding, despite providing crucial services to survivors of GBVF. The Indaba questions whether the designation of GBVF as a national disaster has led to meaningful assistance for these organisations. NSMSA stresses that shelter services encompass more than just temporary housing, including mental health support, legal aid, and resources for children exposed to violence.

The organisation urges various stakeholders, including civil society, policymakers, and funders, to participate in the Indaba to discuss the realities faced by survivors and the shelters supporting them. The event will address progress since the first National Shelter Indaba in 2020, focusing on areas such as the National Council on GBVF's role, community responses to violence, and the financial burden of shelter operations, which can reach up to R300 per person per day.

The NSMSA argues that relying on fundraising alone is insufficient and calls for a comprehensive national response to meet the long-term needs of survivors, aligning with the 2026 Women's Month theme of "Empowered Women Empower the Nation."