​36-year-old Bongi Skhosana is a gender-based violence survivor who gave testimony during a Gauteng Provincial Government Women’s Month talk at Mally Martin at Polokegong in Sizanani Village, Bronkhortspruit on Friday.
The event, which was attended by the survivors of Gender-Based Violence from the shelter and Gender-based Violence (GBV) Brigades, started with a door-to-door campaign at the Roodepoort Farm Informal Settlement.

Giving her testimony, Skhosana said her ordeal at the hands of her former husband started in February this year. Mashiyane’ s husband accused her of cheating with her ex-husband and alleged that they were trying to rekindle their love affair.

She added that, “On that fateful day, he beat me so badly I felt like my skull had cracked open. I decided to open a case against him at a police station where I was referred to a Social Worker who got me to a shelter and it is where I found paradise. I was welcome with open arms and made to feel at home. I was treated with respect and my selfesteem was restored”.

Skhosana said that three months later she now has a place of her own and stays with her children since she left her abusive husband.

Sphiwe Ntuli from Departmental Sustainable Livelihoods unit said the department offer skills programs through funded community-based organisations such as Lesedi Community Knowledge Centre which is based in Ekangala. This organisation offers skills programs such as Computer Training, Business Management and Security Training and has offices in surrounding townships such as Rethabiseng and Sokhulumi. 

Ntuli added that “Within these programs there is a program called Welfare to Work which focuses on empowering disabled women, rehabilitated substance users and women who depend on child support grant for survival. The aim is to equip these women with employable skills to exit the welfare system and stand on their own through employment or businesses (self-employment).

Other state departments such the National Department of Social Development, department of health, Justiceand SAPS and civil society organisations like the South African Council of Alcohol Dependency (SANCA) also participated in the discussions