South Africa’s GBV Command Centre reports a sharp increase in calls in Ekurhuleni, with the Department of Social Development saying it receives 589 calls on 16 September—the highest daily total recorded during the period under review. The department also states the calls represent a 21% jump compared with the previous comparison period.
The reporting focuses on growing concern around gender-based violence and women’s safety. Different outlets frame the increase with emphasis on public fear and the risk of deaths, but all point to the same underlying statistic: the rise in daily hotline calls recorded by the GBV Command Centre. The figures are presented as an indicator of heightened demand for support and possible escalation in incidents being reported or responded to through the service.
Overall, the accounts cite the Department of Social Development as the source of the call-volume data and use the figures to underline the need for continued monitoring and intervention as GBV remains a major concern in the region.
