New Tongaat facility to support GBV survivors and abandoned children

The KwaZulu-Natal government has allocated a provincial building in Tongaat to the DSK Group for a new facility aimed at supporting survivors of gender-based violence (GBV) and abandoned children. Premier Thami Ntuli announced the decision during the fifth annual DSK KZN GBV Gala. DSK founder Dr Daniel Rudy Chettiar expressed gratitude for the grant, noting the facility will address the shortage of shelters on the KZN North Coast, where women experiencing abuse often struggle to find safe accommodation.

Chettiar highlighted the limited capacity of existing shelters, with one only able to accommodate eight to ten women at a time. The closure of the Verulam baby centre has also left a gap in care for abandoned infants. Chettiar emphasized that many cases of GBV go unreported to the police, and the new facility will provide a safe haven for these women.

He recounted a case where a woman allegedly suffered severe beatings by her husband due to her inability to prepare a parcel for her mother-in-law. Despite multiple calls for emergency accommodation, no shelter could take her, leading her to return home and give up on seeking help. The new facility will offer much-needed accommodation for women escaping abusive situations and incorporate a skills development programme to help survivors rebuild their lives and become financially independent.

Chettiar expressed excitement about the new facility, stating that it will significantly enhance the organization's ability to assist vulnerable individuals in northern KwaZulu-Natal.