​The Gauteng Department of Social Development has collaborated with the Department of Communication and Digital Technologies to provide digital skills to more than seventy (70) women who are in shelters for abused women and children in the province.
According to Department of Communication and Digital Technologies Deputy Director for Gender and Disability, Elsie Kekana, the aim of the digital skills training is to transfer skills and knowledge using technology to combat gender-based violence and femicide.

“We have targeted women residing in GBV shelters to enable them to be empowered and reintegrated in a meaningful manner back into society and to overcome the consequences of being abused and violated.”

“We provided information that focused on how to find employment or study opportunities, how technology can assist them in moving out of abusive environments, and how they can learn the basic knowledge to keep themselves safe online,” said Kekana.

Gauteng Department of Social Development’s, Director for Social Crime Prevention and Victim Empowerment (VEP), Pearl Moabelo thanked the Department of Communication and Digital Technologies for choosing Gauteng in rolling out this training.

“You really saw the need because in Gauteng we are experiencing high numbers of gender-based violence and femicide. This is a complicated social ill and crime against humanity and as the Department we appreciate the collaboration.”

“In Gauteng, we have victims that need to be empowered so that they are reintegrated back into society and can make a meaningful contribution in the work environment to take care of themselves and their children.”

“This, therefore, is done to prevent secondary victimization. Not in our name shall gender-based violence continue to tarnish families and destroy lives,” added Moabelo.
One of the women in shelters, who cannot be named to protect her identity said she learned how technology can prevent GBVF.

“I will use this opportunity to also transfer the knowledge to my 14-year-old boy,” she said.