According to the group, gender-based violence (GBV) is a hidden crime that happens mostly behind closed doors.

Masked by silence and fear, it is hard to see. The full extent of the suffering only becomes clear when victims seek help. At this point, victims, who are usually scared and confused, need practical support that gives them hope, the group adds.

Ongoing local and global initiatives, such as the targeted annual 16 Days of Activism, bring the harsh reality of GBV to the fore.

Kathryn Baxter, manager of socio-economic development at The SPAR Group Ltd, emphasises the importance of practical assistance, especially in South Africa. She says there is the need for dedicated efforts to aid all victims — women, children and men — and ensure offenders are brought to justice, contributing to the creation of widespread awareness about GBV. 

"Another sizeable investment is due to be announced in the coming months as we undertake two major projects in our fight against GBV — a rural GBV reporting and support centre and haven for abused women in KwaZulu-Natal, as well as the provision of a DNA laboratory in the province," says Baxter.

In a nation where 52 000 cases of violence against women are reported each year, and slightly over 50% of all femicides are connected to intimate partners, the national conviction rate for GBV assaults is a mere 3%, according to Baxter. 

"This number is horrendous. And the situation calls for immediate action," adds Baxter. "It is crucial that facilities are established in underserviced rural areas where women lack support systems."

These initiatives will complement The SPAR Group's existing partnerships with Lifeline on the SPAR END Gender-Based Violence initiative, as well as with the NPA through the support of its Thuthuzela Care Centres. Through this initiative, a network of 62 centres across the country provide comprehensive care to abused women and children.

In these centres, the NPA ensures that victims receive care from doctors and nurses skilled in collecting and preserving forensic evidence, according to the group. They have the option to report assaults to on-site police officers, talk to social workers and get the support necessary to start coping with the trauma they've endured.

SPAR contributes to these centres by providing personal necessities and groceries valued at R300 000 per month. This support ensures that victims, and more often than not, their children, have access to toiletries and food — a small gesture that can signify a return to normalcy at a time when it is most needed, the group says.

"Providing comforts for victims is a small part of what we do, but it is assisting a phenomenal NPA programme that, through its approach, has secured a massive 76.5% conviction record for victims of GBV," says Baxter.

The SPAR Group says that it is stepping up its support and has increased its dedication to the NPA by financing a Thuthuzela Care Centre in the Jozini municipal area. Once established in the coming months, this facility will mark a significant milestone as the first of its kind in an expansive region covering approximately 3 400km² and housing 187 000 people.

"The centre has been architect-designed with sensitivity and care. It will have facilities where all victims can be treated, access ablution facilities, shower and rest in temporary accommodation while children play safely in a central courtyard area," says Baxter.

Although perpetrators will be interviewed and processed in the same building, the design ensures that victims and abusers never cross paths — something that often occurs in police stations where space is limited and there is a shortage of private rooms, according to Baxter.

Bolstering this project with the aim of expediting justice for GBV offenders, SPAR is playing a key role in establishing a DNA laboratory in KwaZulu-Natal.

"Currently, there are only two operational DNA laboratories, one in Gauteng and the other in the Western Cape. A laboratory in the region will ensure faster processing of DNA-related evidence and, hopefully, the accelerated turnaround times will lead to increased convictions," says Baxter.

GBV has many causes, crosses all levels of society and is becoming more and more prevalent in South Africa. As with most social ills, the more awareness is created, and the more GBV is exposed, the greater the public determination to reduce its impact on society will be, Baxter adds.

"The SPAR Group, through its national network of independent retail stores, is well positioned to initiate and support campaigns that directly address this problem. Early in 2024, we will announce an initiative that will enable customers nationwide to participate in efforts to intensify the battle against one of the nation's most serious crimes," Baxter says.

"Working together, we can address the limited access to support services, counselling, shelters and legal services that are hindering survivors' ability to escape abusive situations and seek justice. The cycle of violence must be broken, and The SPAR Group intends to be an active partner in achieving this objective," adds Baxter.

"My plea to every single South African — if you or anyone you know needs help, or if you're worried that you may hurt someone you love, please call the Stop Gender Violence LifeLine Helpline on 0800 150 150," Baxter says. 

"You can also SMS or WhatsApp the word 'Brave' to the same number, and someone will contact you. Help is available in English, Xhosa, Zulu, Southern Sotho, Northern Sotho, Tswana, Swati, Ndebele, Afrikaans, Venda and Tsonga," concludes Baxter.

For more information, visit www.thespargroup.com.