Gender-based violence (GBV) and child abuse have for years exacerbated and perpetuated gender inequality, limiting social change and health equity in South Africa.
For some, the term "GBV" may be unfamiliar, but the experience is real.
GBV is a social ailment referring to violence directed at young and elderly women, women in the LGBTQA+ community as well as disabled women. For many years, it has existed because of gender power imbalances in our society.
This unfortunately is a common social ill in South Africa where women and children remain the most vulnerable groups of people in the country, due to the exponential rise in targeted violence against them.
For example, when the world entered the "new normal" in 2020 as a result of lockdown measures to combat the COVID-19 pandemic, reports revealed a frightening increase in violence against women and children in particular. Further, in the first week of the lockdown, the South African Police Service (SAPS) registered a staggering 2,300 requests for GBV assistance, demonstrating that GVB, child abuse and related issues must continue to be a top priority before societal progress occurs.
In light of International Day of Innocent Children Victims of Aggression on the 4th of June and as we are approaching World Elder Abuse Awareness Day on June 15, we ought to take matters a step further and reflect on radical interventions that we should collectively take to curb GBV and child abuse concurrently.
In recognition of this, Nissan South Africa and the office of the Presidency are collaborating in community-based involvement projects aimed at capacitating and supporting initiatives to combat GBV and child abuse, recognising that non-profit organisations alone cannot address and prevent this crisis in isolation.
The two parties have identified Nomaxabiso White Door Centre of Hope, a non-profit organisation whose vision is in line with helping survivors of sexual, emotional and domestic abuse at Whittlesea, in the Eastern Cape.
"Our philosophy at Nissan is to enrich people's lives," said Wonga Mesatywa, executive director of Corporate Affairs Nissan South Africa. "Yes, we are an automotive company, but we are also so much more than that. We are passionate about the communities where we work and we are also enthusiastic in giving our time, knowledge and resources to support local organisations and initiatives."
In addition, the NGO works together with the Department of Social Development, the Department of Health (DoH) and the SAPS to ensure a seamless handover of resources that need to be allocated towards each case, as each GBV and child abuse scenario is often unique and requires tailored attention.
"Part of the NGO's mandate is to provide mentorship programmes for men, and we also strive to rehabilitate perpetrators of violence while implementing practical, radical, and accessible interventions to tackle GBV and child abuse at grass-root levels in our community," said Xabiso Vokwana, care giver and driver at Nomaxabiso White Door Centre of Hope.
As a company that cares about the communities in which it operates, Nissan South Africa recognises the importance of mobility in fostering social agency. To help the NGO, Nissan donated an iconic NP300 – renowned for its dependability and locally produced at Nissan's Rosslyn, Pretoria factory – to the organisation.
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"We value the donation of the NP300," said Xabiso Vokwana. "It has been a great asset to our counsellors, allowing them to access victims of gender-based violence and child abuse as well as members of the community to spread awareness."
The Nissan NP300 has given the organization the ability to be mobile and reach out to community members who have been victims of gender-based violence and child abuse to offer counseling and help them get out of dangerous situations. The vehicle has also been instrumental in facilitating education and awareness drives aimed at reducing the prevalence of violence in Whittlesea's larger population.
Nissan continues to drive programmes that are dedicated to serving the communities in which they operate. The Nomaxabiso White Door Centre of Hope forms part of Nissan's ongoing corporate social responsibility programmes that are rooted in the organisation's vison of "enriching lives." Nissan will continue to listen to the needs of local communities and pursue activities that meet society's needs.
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