VFP ACR Turquoise
Provincial VPF

Western Cape

About

The Western Cape Violence Prevention Forum (WC VPF) is a provincial multistakeholder platform that has been meeting twice a year since 2021 to share knowledge and practice and enable stronger partnerships between violence prevention practitioners across sectors.

The Institute for Security Studies (ISS) convenes the Forum. It is guided and governed by a multisectoral steering committee, and the meetings are facilitated by independent and skilled facilitators.

WC VPF meetings are facilitated in an inclusive manner that draws on the diversity of voices and experiences. Shared agreements enable equal and constructive participation. These are: be present, share and be honest, be respectful, accept dissenting voices, be aware of power, be open to collaboration and have fun.

The journey towards developing the Western Cape VPF

Steering committee

A multi-sectoral steering committee provides strategic direction for the forum to ensure that it meets the needs of all sectors in the province. It includes representatives from community-based organisations which deliver violence prevention programmes, an academic from a WC university, and representatives from the Departments of Health, Social Development and the Office of the Premier.

Driver Group
The Forum’s Driver Group made up of representatives from government, research institutions, and non-governmental organisations, determines its strategic direction.

Meet the driver group:

1. Blanche Rezant (Department of Health Violence Prevention Unit)
2. Diketso Mufamadi-Mathebula (Department of the Premier)
3. Jackie Saaiman (Lima Rural Development)
4. Jill Ryan (University of Stellenbosch)
5. Judith Kennedy (Insideout)
6. Marycke Sampson (Department of Education)
7. Senzekile Bengu (Institute for Security Studies)
8. Vuyo Koyana (Pan-African Market)
9. Wilmi Dippenaar (South African Parenting Programme Implementers Network)

Impact

In 2023, the Western Cape government allocated R45 million for scaling up evidence-led family strengthening programmes over three years. The money was allocated to pilot evidence-informed parenting programmes for 3,000 families annually. Members of the violence prevention forum and the South African Parenting Programme Implementers Network played a significant role in shaping and informing the province’s Family Strengthening Strategy and implementation plan, which laid the foundation for this allocation.

Impact

By the start of 2023, the Western Cape Violence Prevention Forum had reached 132 individuals. These individuals represent key stakeholders from NGOs, policymakers, researchers, social movements, religious leaders and the private sector.