Rural nonprofit boosts fight against gender-based violence and femicide scourge in Eastern Cape

BRC, GEF and Rasmeni Farming facilitated a 4-day training in Ndevana, equipping 25 learners with knowledge and skills in sustainable gardening and food production. (Photo: Supplied)

By Naledi Sikhakhane

22 May 2025

An organisation that primarily focuses on farming as a means to food security and upskilling has had to add the fight against gender-based violence because of its prevalence in rural communities.

One in three South African women aged 16 and older has experienced physical violence, while one in five has faced sexual abuse.

And a Human Sciences Research Council (HSRC) report has revealed that 33.1% of women aged 18 and older have endured physical violence in their lifetime

Deputy President Paul Mashatile has joined the chorus of those condemning “the inhumane treatment of victims”, referring to one recent case in particular that shocked the country, involving a seven-year-old girl from Matatiele, known as “Cwecwe”.

Asanda Nginase is a project officer with the Border Rural Committee based in East London. It’s a rural development nonprofit but has found an ever-greater need to include gender-based violence-sensitive programmes due to the scourge in the communities with which they work.

She started in the organisation’s admin department 16 years ago, but says the calling to work with communities was always there. “I always had the passion to work directly with communities. Over the years, I familiarised myself with community engagement, mobilisation, facilitation and project management under our programmes’ department supervision.”

The Border Rural Committee is a membership-based land reform and rural development NGO working in the central and eastern parts of the Eastern Cape, primarily on food security projects aimed especially at women in rural areas. The project provides support through inputs and training for small-scale farmers for their own consumption and selling.

The Border Rural Committee, GEF and Rasmeni Farming facilitated a four-day training course in Ndevana, equipping 25 people with knowledge and skills in sustainable gardening and food production. (Photo: Supplied)

GBVF The Border Rural Committee hosts capacity building workshops in partnership with GBV victim safety centres. (Photo: Supplied)

Nginase says that “geographically, and by default, rural communities are at a disadvantage in that they have limited resources and opportunities. Food security is critical in creating resilience in rural communities at a time where there is economic and political instability both nationally and globally.

“It is essential that land and other natural resources are used to create thriving rural economies, where food is locally produced, where markets and other services are created. Furthermore, rural communities must adapt to climate change where strategies to prevent food insecurity are implemented in a more preventative approach rather than responsive. This is why BRC has focused on capacity building in agroecological practices and financial management in the women-led household gardens,” she says.

In the Eastern Cape, the intensity of poverty is 43.3%, according to Operation Hunger. The youth unemployment rate (15 to 34 years) reached 62.6%, while 45.5% of the labour force have not completed secondary education, with 60.6% of households relying on grants.

These figures make development and upskilling projects crucial to shift the living conditions in communities. When asked what kind of intervention people respond positively to, Nginase singled out their food security programme as it seeks to reduce economic vulnerability, which is often a factor contributing to GBV and femicide (GBVF).

“The supply of inputs and training to households has created independence, self-realisation and self-awareness to various beneficiaries who are women heading households and survivors of GBV,” says Nginase.

Although the scourge of GBV cuts across socioeconomic classes, Nginase says the Border Rural Committee has included GBV awareness and education in its programmes due to the high prevalence they encounter in communities.

“Women empowerment is at the forefront of our agenda, hence the focus on household gardens from disadvantaged women-led households. However, food security is not the only challenge faced by women in rural areas. GBV is notably at its highest in rural Eastern Cape.

Participants in the four-day training session in Ndevana, during which 25 people gained knowledge and skills in sustainable gardening and food production. (Photo: Supplied)

“BRC designed a multifaceted approach of addressing food insecurity and gender-based violence through empowering women. Another approach implemented by BRC in addressing the GBV scourge is engagement with men and boys on patriarchy and toxic masculinity,” Nginase says.

In mid-May, women braved the chilly autumn weather to attend one of the sessions the Border Rural Committee has in a programme to fight against GBVF in partnership with victim empowerment centres. The committee supports the centres in building their capacity, governance, resources and joint delivery of GBVF activities.

They work with 15 victim empowerment centres through the established Isibane network. A four-day capacity building programme, besides dealing with legal aspects, also aims to support girls with school uniforms, transport to access counselling services and other school needs.

“We encourage the education of the girl child who is a survivor of this pandemic. BRC is continuing with the effort to fundraise from the private sector and public to support this initiative, among others working together with Lavuka Ithemba Women and Children Support Centre.

“The committee always collaborates with stakeholders such as the SAPS, traditional council members, Eastern Cape Social Development and the Smiling Valley community,” Nginase says.

“Government and civil society interventions need to be coordinated and collaborative. In addition, intervention must be on implementing approaches that are sustainable and that can create and provide reliable food security.” DM

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