THE Department of Public Works and Infrastructure is taking a good step in the right direction in the fight against gender-based violence (GBV).

This comes as Public Works and Infrastructure Minister Dean Macpherson this week handed over 10 properties that will be used as shelters for victims of GBV.

“The handover of these properties is part of the work we are doing to ensure that the Department plays a meaningful role in improving the lives of all South Africans. By working together, we are using public assets for the public good to build a better country. Let’s build South Africa,” the Minister said at a handover ceremony in Mpumalanga.

Five of the properties are located in Badplaas, four in Lothair, and one in Delmas.

They had previously stood vacant and unutilised by the department but will now be renovated by the Mpumalanga provincial department. Macpherson said Monday’s handover to the Mpumalanga MEC for Social Development, Brenda Moeketsi, aligns with the department’s mission to ensure that public properties do not stand idle, but are instead used for the public good.

The handover follows a similar transfer last month of five unutilised properties in Waterkloof, Pretoria, to the Gauteng Social Development department. Source: SAnews.gov.za