Please see a picture of Derrick America, Lana O’Neill, and Members of the Standing Committee on Local Government at Heavenly Promise Safehouse, Bredasdorp.
On Wednesday, along with members of the Standing Committee on Local Government, I visited the Heavenly Promise Safehouse in Bredasdorp. This facility is not only a beacon of hope to victims and survivors of GBV and other social ills in the community, but is also one of the first examples of an exciting partnership between multiple spheres of government in combatting Gender-Based Violence (GBV) and strengthening the municipal response against devastating social ills.
Established in 2015 by the Cape Agulhas Municipality, Heavenly Promise provides shelter to many women and girls who have become trapped in abusive relationships, violent home situations, or the bonds of addiction. Under the stewardship of the site’s tremendously dedicated leader, Lana O’Neill, the staff at Heavenly Promise work around the clock to ensure that vulnerable people in the community receive food, a place to sleep, and vital social services.
More than this, Heavenly Promise represents the coming together of multiple stakeholders from civil society, the private sector, and multiple spheres of government to create a network of safehouses that interlink with each other to provide a comprehensive safety-net to the entire district. These stakeholders include the local municipality, Overberg District Municipality, the provincial Departments of Social Development and Local Government, local businesses, and larger firms.
This model of collaboration and cooperation is one which is currently being replicated and expanded upon across the Overberg District Municipality. Safehouses are currently in the process of being established in Overstrand, Swellendam, and Theewaterskloof with funding and support from the Departments of Local Government and Social Development, Heavenly Promise itself will today begin construction of an expansion to its facilities. This will expand the network of safehouses to encompass the entirety of the Overberg District.
Having a network of safehouses not only allows for more GBV survivors to find shelter – it also allows for their relocation to safer locations if necessary. During our visit, we were told the stories of several young women who had left relationships with violent criminals in the area. Due to Heavenly Promise’s connections to similar facilities across the province, these women were able to be taken to places of safety far out of harm’s way. This is just one example of the positives which can be achieved by a whole-of-society approach to pressing social issues.
I commend the work being done by the Overberg District Municipality in instituting this initiative on a wider scale, and welcome the efforts of the provincial Departments of Social Development and Local Government in supporting it. This initiative bears the hallmarks of DA governance: a forward-thinking and collaborative approach to tackle a difficult issue, and a clear focus on the needs of our citizens. I am excited to see this initiative expand, and to see all stakeholders continue to come together to do even more for the citizens of the Western Cape.