1008801667__20261109__0 DSK founder Dr Daniel Rudy Chettiar addresses guests at the fifth annual DSK KZN GBV Gala, held to raise funds for survivor-support programmes in KwaZulu-Natal.
The KwaZulu-Natal government has granted the DSK Group occupation of a provincial building in Tongaat for a facility supporting GBV survivors and abandoned children.
The announcement was made by KZN Premier Thami Ntuli at the fifth annual DSK KZN GBV Gala held on Saturday night.
He said Public Works and Infrastructure MEC Martin Meyer had granted the non-profit organisation occupation of the building.
DSK founder Dr Daniel Rudy Chettiar said the facility would address the shortage of shelters in on the KZN North Coast, where women experiencing abuse often struggled to find safe accommodation.
“We are overwhelmed with the decision to give us a place to help women and children. We work in the north of KZN and there are not many women’s shelters. There is one, but it can only cater for eight to 10 women at a time,” said Chettiar.
He said the closure of the Verulam baby centre had also left a gap in care facilities for abandoned babies, with existing children's homes not necessarily equipped to accommodate infants.
Chettiar said the organisation continued to receive reports from women experiencing abuse, adding that many cases went unreported to the police for various reasons.
“There are only 42% of reported cases, but there are even more unreported. They come to us, but do not report the abuse to the police for various reasons. All these women need a safe place, so I am very happy about this facility. It will service the whole of the north,” he said.
He described an incident on Diwali day where a woman allegedly suffered a severe beating at the hands of her husband after she had not prepared a parcel for her mother-in-law in the morning.
The woman approached the organisation for assistance, but despite several calls to find her emergency accommodation, no shelter could accommodate her.
“By the fifth call she told us not to worry and she would go back to her husband. She did not report the case to the police. I am sure she felt that she would not get any help due to the many phone calls, so she just decided to give up and return home,” said Chettiar.
“There is nothing we can do when there is no space.”
He said the new facility would provide much-needed accommodation for women seeking to escape abusive situations and would make a significant difference in the organisation's ability to assist vulnerable people.
Chettiar said that the centre would also incorporate a skills development programme aimed at helping survivors rebuild their lives and become financially independent.
“The facility will also be associated with a skills development programme which will help equip themselves with skills and help them recover. So when they return to their communities, they will be self-sufficient and not rely on anyone.
“I am very excited for this new facility,” he said.
The facility is expected to strengthen support services for vulnerable women and children in northern KwaZulu-Natal, providing them with a place of safety while helping survivors work towards rebuilding their lives.