GBV survivors left without critical services as LifeLine hit by power outage
The prolonged outage has affected the organisation's ability to provide counselling and support services, with management warning that survivors are bearing the brunt of the disruption.
LifeLine Pietermaritzburg, a critical support organisation for survivors of gender-based violence (GBV), has been without electricity for 13 days, severely disrupting services and leaving vulnerable clients struggling to access essential assistance.
The prolonged outage has affected the organisation’s ability to provide counselling and support services, with management warning that survivors are bearing the brunt of the disruption.
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Executive director Sinikiwe Biyela said the organisation had repeatedly reported the power outage but had yet to receive assistance.
We have been without electricity for 13 days now and this is affecting our services badly.
“We have reported the problem with no luck,” Biyela said.
She said several key services had been rendered inaccessible. Telephone lines are down, internet connectivity has been lost, and email counselling services are no longer operational.
“Our telephones are not working, our email counselling services are down because there is no internet, and our counselling rooms are dark,” she said.
LifeLine Pietermaritzburg provides psychosocial support, counselling, and crisis intervention to individuals experiencing trauma, including survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, and abuse.
Biyela said the impact extended beyond administrative inconvenience.
“The most needed service cannot be offered. Something needs to be done to ensure that survivors are not left without services,” she said.
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The outage comes at a time when demand for GBV support services remains high.
Survivors often depend on confidential telephone and online counselling platforms as their first point of contact, particularly when they are unable to visit offices in person.
Without electricity, staff have been forced to work under difficult conditions, with counselling sessions limited by poorly lit rooms and the inability to access electronic records, communication systems, and online resources.
Biyela appealed for the power supply to be restored as a matter of urgency, warning that every day without electricity further limits the organisation’s capacity to assist those facing abuse and trauma.
Community members and stakeholders have expressed concern that the prolonged disruption could discourage survivors from seeking help, particularly those requiring urgent intervention.
Msunduzi Municipality spokesperson Ntobeko Mkhize said, “The municipality acknowledges the reported delay in restoring electricity supply to LifeLine Pietermaritzburg and regrets the inconvenience caused to the organisation.
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The municipality recently experienced a strike that affected service delivery operations and resulted in a backlog of service requests, including electrical faults requiring attention. Following the suspension of the strike, teams have been working to address outstanding matters and restore normal service levels.
