More GBV Ambassadors for Cape Metro
More Cape Town residents have raised their hands to join the Western Cape Government in standing up against Gender-Based Violence (GBV).
On 8 September 2025, 138 volunteers – the largest cohort to date – joined the Western Cape Department of Social Development’s (DSD) GBV Ambassador programme.
Most of the ambassadors will join existing GBV Ambassador programmes. These are the respective areas they will cover:
- Retreat: 10 new GBV Ambassadors → bringing the total number of GBV Ambassadors for Retreat to 21
- Philippi: 46 → 64
- Mitchells Plain: 26 → 46
- Gugulethu: 35 → 66
- Wynberg: 19
- Metro East (Mfuleni and Khayelitsha): 2 → 39
These volunteers will assist DSD by providing information about support services available to survivors of abuse and domestic violence and help in raising awareness in their communities.
They will also do referrals of domestic violence cases to the South African Police Service (SAPS) and local DSD offices. Some ambassadors will also volunteer at their nearest police station’s victim-friendly facilities.
GBV Ambassador Samuel Roman from Mitchells Plain said, “Becoming a GBV Ambassador will be an honour. I will help to be a catalyst of change, and to make a difference in the community, to be an advocate against GBV.”
Western Cape Minister of Social Development Jaco Londt said, “The fact that we have even more residents raising their hands to be part of this programme shows the impact that current GBV Ambassadors are having in their respective communities. This is exactly what the Western Cape Department of Social Development is aiming for: to encourage residents to stand with us against abuse and violence in all its forms. We are creating a movement, one of hope and of peace. Thank you to these incredible ambassadors for availing themselves to a cause that seeks not only to prevent GBV, but to strengthen support for survivors by offering them a safe space and easier pathways to support services. And a huge thank you to the DSD staff who put in all the effort and work to make this programme a success!”
GBV Ambassador programmes are already well established and operating in:
- Swartland
- Delft
- Grabouw
- Philippi
- Heinz Park
- Ceres
- Central Karoo district
- Cape Metro North (Dunoon, Bishop Lavis, Langa, Elsies River, and Fisantekraal)
- Berg River
- Metro South (Manenberg, Heideveld, Lavender Hill, Philippi, Steenberg, and Gugulethu)
- Metro East (Kraaifontein, Khayelitsha, Eerste River, Mfuleni, and Somerset West)
- Cape Winelands and Overberg regions (Bonnievale, Ashton, Robertson, McGregor, and Zolani)
- Klein Karoo (Oudtshoorn, Ladismith, Calitzdorp, Dysselsdorp, and Zoar)
To access more information about services offered by the Department for GBV victims, call our toll-free number on 0800 220 250, send an email to SD.CustomerCare@westerncape.gov.za or visit: https://www.westerncape.gov.za/social-development/service/victim-empowerment-programme
Media Enquiries
Monique Mortlock-Malgas
Media Liaison Officer to Minister Jaco Londt
Department of Social Development
Email: Monique.Mortlock@westerncape.gov.za