BSW4802 Assignment 2
(COMPLETE ANSWERS)
2025 (153705) - DUE 24
June 2025
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Email:
, Essay 1: Gender-Based Violence in the Service Field of Work with Women
1. Introduction
Gender-Based Violence (GBV) is one of South Africa's most deeply rooted human rights
violations, which impact women from all racial, economic, and social classes. This essay
explores GBV as a problem category within the service field of work with women. The fact-
finding exercise for this assignment involved a visit to Women for Safety, a Johannesburg-based
non-governmental organisation (NGO) providing shelter, legal services, and
counselling to survivors of violence against women. With official clearance from the
organisation, I conducted interviews with a senior social worker (Stakeholder A) and an intimate
partner violence survivor (Stakeholder B). Apart from these interviews, I also drew
on academic research, South African law, and policy reports, including the Domestic Violence
Act (1998), the Criminal Law (Sexual Offences and Related Matters) Amendment Act (2007),
and the National Strategic Plan on GBV and Femicide (2020–2030). This essay
critically analyzes the efficacy of existing policies and legislation, discusses issues faced by
service providers and users, and makes recommendations for reform.
2. Problem Category in the Selected Service Field
Gender-Based Violence is a chain of abuses like physical, emotional, sexual, and economic
violence primarily directed against women. The actors involved are survivors, social workers,
law enforcers, the judiciary, community leaders, and policymakers. The greatest
challenge to addressing GBV, according to Stakeholder A, is underreporting due to fear, stigma,
and mistrust in the justice system. Stakeholder B described her hesitation to approach the police
after being assaulted by her partner, fearing she would not be taken seriously.
The NGO Women for Safety runs a range of programs: trauma counselling, emergency
shelter, legal services, and empowerment workshops. The NGO
is, nonetheless, limited by funding constraints and burned-out staff,
which controls the extent and frequency of
their operation. Government interventions, including that of the Department of Social
Development, are incoherently coordinated and exclude rural areas.
3. Policies and Legislation Affecting the Problem Category
There are a variety of policies and laws in South Africa which aim to address GBV:
The Domestic Violence Act (No. 116 of 1998): This legislation broadly defines domestic
violence and provides survivors with access to protection orders. It compels police to assist
(COMPLETE ANSWERS)
2025 (153705) - DUE 24
June 2025
For assistance contact
Email:
, Essay 1: Gender-Based Violence in the Service Field of Work with Women
1. Introduction
Gender-Based Violence (GBV) is one of South Africa's most deeply rooted human rights
violations, which impact women from all racial, economic, and social classes. This essay
explores GBV as a problem category within the service field of work with women. The fact-
finding exercise for this assignment involved a visit to Women for Safety, a Johannesburg-based
non-governmental organisation (NGO) providing shelter, legal services, and
counselling to survivors of violence against women. With official clearance from the
organisation, I conducted interviews with a senior social worker (Stakeholder A) and an intimate
partner violence survivor (Stakeholder B). Apart from these interviews, I also drew
on academic research, South African law, and policy reports, including the Domestic Violence
Act (1998), the Criminal Law (Sexual Offences and Related Matters) Amendment Act (2007),
and the National Strategic Plan on GBV and Femicide (2020–2030). This essay
critically analyzes the efficacy of existing policies and legislation, discusses issues faced by
service providers and users, and makes recommendations for reform.
2. Problem Category in the Selected Service Field
Gender-Based Violence is a chain of abuses like physical, emotional, sexual, and economic
violence primarily directed against women. The actors involved are survivors, social workers,
law enforcers, the judiciary, community leaders, and policymakers. The greatest
challenge to addressing GBV, according to Stakeholder A, is underreporting due to fear, stigma,
and mistrust in the justice system. Stakeholder B described her hesitation to approach the police
after being assaulted by her partner, fearing she would not be taken seriously.
The NGO Women for Safety runs a range of programs: trauma counselling, emergency
shelter, legal services, and empowerment workshops. The NGO
is, nonetheless, limited by funding constraints and burned-out staff,
which controls the extent and frequency of
their operation. Government interventions, including that of the Department of Social
Development, are incoherently coordinated and exclude rural areas.
3. Policies and Legislation Affecting the Problem Category
There are a variety of policies and laws in South Africa which aim to address GBV:
The Domestic Violence Act (No. 116 of 1998): This legislation broadly defines domestic
violence and provides survivors with access to protection orders. It compels police to assist
