The South African Police Service in KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) received 1 000 comfort packs for victims of Gender-Based Violence and Femicide (GBVF) from AVBOB at the AVBOB provincial offices in Umhlanga on Wednesday.
The comfort packs include toiletries and other goodies which will assist in restoring dignity and providing immediate care to victims of crime, mostly at Victim Friendly Rooms (VFRs) at police stations.
In his handover speech, AVBOB’s General Manager for Tied Sales, Vusi Khathi said that when leaders gather with a purpose, survivors feel supported.
He said that AVBOB realised in 2020 that they needed to stand up and contribute to the fight against GBVF, whose statistics soared during the lockdown to a point where GBVF was declared a second pandemic after COVID-19.
“The magnitude of gender-based violence in South Africa cannot be addressed through once-off campaigns or symbolic statements. It calls for ongoing, coordinated efforts between government, civil society, communities, as well as the private sector to drive meaningful and lasting change.
“One thousand comfort packs for victims and survivors of gender-based violence were formally handed over to the SAPS in KZN to help restore dignity during a time of need. The handover was followed by a pledge-signing ceremony where all parties reaffirmed their shared and unwavering commitment to eradicate the scourge of GBVF+. Today’s launch is more than the start of a programme it is a clear statement of intent.
“By partnering with law enforcement and the justice department, we are committing to practical, measurable action that strengthens prevention, supports survivors, and helps ensure accountability. Real change requires collaboration, consistency, and courage. We are proud to stand alongside our partners in building safer communities for all,” said Khathi.
The KwaZulu-Natal Acting Deputy Provincial Commissioner for Crime Detection, Major General Anthony Gopaul, who represented the Provincial Commissioner Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi, said that the horrific stories of gender-based violence, especially rape and domestic violence-related incidents, should trigger all of us to take action.
“We thank AVBOB for not being a bystander, but for taking a firm stand and partnering with the SAPS in KwaZulu-Natal to bring relief to the victims of GBVF. We acknowledge all partners who work with us to prevent the scourge of GBVF and who also work hard to preserve the dignity of victims. We thank the nurses at hospitals, social workers and other professionals at Thuthuzela Centres and other non-profit organisations that go out of their way to help the victims of GBVF get justice and heal their emotional wounds,” said Gopaul.
Gopaul added that sometimes victims of GBVF do not want to see any woman or man in uniform during their time of distress, and at that time social workers and nurses play a key role in helping victims understand the process of attaining justice.
“We make a call to all police officers who respond to GBVF cases or those who encounter GBVF victims at police stations not to inflict secondary victimisation on victims. Police must show compassion and care, make victims feel supported, and assure them that they will get justice. Men must step up and have serious conversations with each other.
“We must teach our daughters and sisters to walk away from abusive relationships, not to tolerate any form of abuse and disrespect, and to instil confidence in them,” said Gopaul.
He further announced that 500 comfort packs will be handed over to FCS units, 250 will go to Social Crime Prevention, and the remaining 250 comfort packs will be kept at Victim Friendly Rooms across the province.