​Officials from the Gauteng Department of Social Development marked Orange Day outside the department’s head office on Friday.
The day was also used to launch the Department's internal 365 Days of Activism against Gender-based Violence awareness campaign. The campaign is spearheaded by the Gender, Youth and Disability (GEYODI) Mainstreaming directorate in partnership with the Victim Empowerment Programme (VEP/SCP), Special Needs, EHWP, Stakeholder Relations, Communications, Men’s & Women’s Forums together with the Johannesburg Metro Region.

Officials were dressed in Orange and Black to represent the United Nations’ global theme of “Orange the World: End Violence Against Women Now!” as they picketed along Commissioner Street.

According to police reports cases of domestic violence against women and children increased as governments enacted lockdown measures to stem the spread of the coronavirus. Due to school closures and economic hardships, women and children have become more defenseless and exposed to exploitation, harassment, and abuse.

"Women in South Africa live in fear of being victims, and women with disabilities are four times more vulnerable to rape and abuse because attackers want to see if they are sexual beings", said Leonie Van Der Merwe, Gender, Youth and Disability Mainstreaming Director.

To avoid eventually resorting to violence, Van Der Merwe stated that we need fathers to speak up and urge boys to express their emotions.

The Department’s, Chief Financial Officer, Johann Strauss said there was a need of moving from awareness to accountability. He also called on officials to wear orange on the 25th of every month to raise awareness throughout the year.

Estell Otto from VEP unit explained various types of abuse including toxic masculinity features that often contribute to domestic violence and urged officials to stop turning a blind eye.

Zandi Mahola, who spoke on the Disability and GBV Acts, was handed a reward for the winning poster by Program Director Jeffrey Makhwiliri.

According to Roche Kester, Director of the LGBTQIA+ from the Office of the Premier, 24 people have died in South Africa as a result of hate crime in 2021, and it has past time that this community is included in such discussions and activities.