​Qaqambile Mdledle
While violence against women and children remains a big problem in communities, Gauteng government continues to work tirelessly to fight the scourge against gender-based violence (GBV) in the province.
A total of 620 GBV Brigades were recruited to lead community mobilisation, advocate for gender equality and report gender-based violence and femicide (GBVF) cases and to also establish networks for support to victims and families.
Victims of domestic violence and sexual abuse in the province can seek help at green doors.  Green doors provide victims a safe place, counselling, advice on opening a case and acting against their abusers, basic emotional support, basic care, and a place to rest for a short term while the department looks for a placement in a safe house such as Ikhaya Lethemba.  
Ikhaya Lethemba is a one stop centre for abused women and children offering accommodation, medico-legal assistance such as court preparation amongst others. 
There are now 39 green doors across the province offering some relief in the fight against domestic violence and sexual abuse of women and children.
These centres are specifically designed for victims of domestic violence who live more than three kilometers away from a police station. The service is operational on a 24-hour basis.
Community Safety MEC, Faith Mazibuko said the opening of the green doors is in line with the Gauteng government's commitment to establish 50 victim empowerment centres to bring services closer to residents.
"We are calling on the private sector to make a similar commitment to enhancing the empowerment of the women," MEC Mazibuko said.
These Green Door facilities are managed by ambassadors, who ensures that all the victims receive equal amounts of support and a place of comfort.
The Green Door ambassadors receive training on how to help victims deal with the situations they face. The centres are open to neglected and abused male and female adults and children.
The centres work together with the police and Victim Empowerment Centres in communities, which provide counselling by qualified social workers. A family member or a friend can report an abuse to the Green Door Centres on behalf of a victim of abuse.
Brown Lekekela set up a Green Door shelter in his backyard to give a place of safety, counselling and referral to victims of GBV in Diepsloot. He runs the shelter single-handedly and has dedicated his life to supporting and achieving justice for survivors of GBV.
He has always been involved in community structures. After he completed his matric in 2006, he worked as a volunteer at the Diepsloot Police Station, working with victims of crime.
"That's where I was exposed to the deep rooted and entrenched patriarchal beliefs that lead to the marginalisation of women in South Africa, leaving them exposed and vulnerable to diseases and violence," he said.
Diepsloot victim lifeline offers various services including referral to police, social workers, shelter, and clinics. They also do workshops, talks at schools and churches.
The provincial government also handed over 11 luxury sedan vehicles to Victim Empowerment Centres attached to the police stations that have been flagged as Gender Based Violence hotspots in the province.