Skip to content 
Gender-Based Violence (GBV) continues to be a serious issue in South Africa, particularly in Cape Town, South Africa.
Thankfully, several powerful organisations are working every day to protect, support, and empower survivors.
Here’s a comprehensive list of the best GBV organisations in Cape Town (and the Western Cape) that is most trusted, effective, and community-driven.
📑 Table of Contents
- Saartjie Baartman Centre for Women and Children
- MOSAIC Training, Service & Healing Centre
- The Callas Foundation
- Women’s Legal Centre (WLC)
- Justice Desk Africa
- Rape Crisis Cape Town Trust
- Thuthuzela Care Centre – Karl Bremer
- I Hear You
- Emergency GBV Helplines
1. Saartjie Baartman Centre for Women and Children
📍 Klipfontein Rd, Manenberg, Cape Town, 7764
🌐 www.saartjiebaartmancentre.org.za
📞 021 633 5287
📧 info@saartjiebaartmancentre.org.za
Why they stand out:
Established in 1999, the Saartjie Baartman Centre offers a comprehensive range of services for women and children who are survivors of abuse, including shelter, counseling, legal assistance, and skills development programs.
They offer 24-hour shelter, trauma counselling, legal advice, job skills training, and childcare, all on-site. They also run impactful outreach and prevention programs across the Cape Flats.
Learn about the organization here
2. Mosaic Training, Service & Healing Centre for Women
📍 66 Ottery Rd, Wynberg, Cape Town, 7800
🌐 www.mosaic.org.za
📞 021 761 7585 | 📧 admin@mosaic.org.za
Why they stand out:
MOSAIC focuses on preventing and reducing abuse and domestic violence by providing holistic, integrated services for the healing and empowerment of women through support services, access to justice, and training.
Learn about the organization here
3. The Callas Foundation
📍 32 Kiewiet RoadBridgetown, Athone, Cape Town, 7764
🌐 www.callasfoundation.org
📞 072 539 5113
📧 admin@callasfoundation.org
Why they stand out:
The Callas Foundation champions gender justice by supporting women, children, and men through grassroots outreach, trauma-informed care, and legal empowerment, disrupting systems that uphold inequality.
Learn about the organization here
4. Women’s Legal Centre (WLC)
📍 2nd Floor, 5 St Georges, St Georges Mall, Cape Town, 8000
🌐 www.wlce.co.za
📞 021 424 5660
📧 info@wlce.co.za
Why they stand out:
The Women’s Legal Centre is an African feminist legal centre that advances women’s rights and equality through strategic litigation, advocacy, education, and training.
Learn about the organization here
5. Justice Desk Africa
📍 12 York Road, Green Point, 8051, Cape Town, South Africa (Active in 9 African Countries)
🌐 www.justicedesk.org
📞 060 627 1963 | 📧 info@justicedesk.org
Why they stand out:
The Justice Desk is an award-winning human rights non-profit organisation that empowers everyday people to understand and defend their human rights, promoting the power of everyday activism.
Operating across 9 African countries, they run impactful programs focused on GBV prevention, youth leadership, and community empowerment. Their work includes school-based human rights education, survivor advocacy, and grassroots mobilization.
Learn about the organization here
6. Rape Crisis Cape Town Trust
📍 89 Msobomvu Drive, Khayelitsha, Village 1 South, Cape Town, 7784
🌐 www.rapecrisis.org.za
📞 021 447 1467 (Office) | 021 447 9762 (24-hr Helpline)
📧 communications@rapecrisis.org.za
Why they stand out:
As one of the oldest rape crisis centres in SA, they provide essential services like 24/7 counselling, court support, community training, and rape survivor advocacy. Their helpline is a crucial lifeline for many.
Learn about the organization here
7. Thuthuzela Care Centre – Karl Bremer Hospital
📍 Karl Bremer Hospital, Bellville, Cape Town, 7530
📞 021 918 1403
Thuthuzela National Hotline: 0800 428 428 (24/7)
Why they stand out:
Part of a national network, this care centre offers one-stop services for survivors of sexual assault: medical care, forensic examinations, counselling, and legal reporting in a private and supportive space – reducing secondary trauma.
8. I Hear You (Mental Health Support for Survivors)
📍 Online and in-person, Cape Town
🌐 www.ihearyou.org.za
📧 connect@ihearyou.org.za
Why they stand out:
Focused on trauma recovery through accessible, sliding-scale mental health services, “I Hear You” connects survivors with qualified professionals for counselling, group therapy, and resilience coaching – in a safe and stigma-free environment.
Need Help Right Now?
GBV Command Centre (24/7): 📞 0800 428 428
SMS “HELP” to: 31531
Stop Gender Violence Helpline: 📞 0800 150 150
SAPS Emergency: 📞 10111
Whether you’re seeking legal advice, safe shelter, trauma support, or community education, these top GBV organisations in Cape Town (and the Western Cape) are here for you. Each plays a unique role in the fight against gender-based violence and provides survivors with the dignity, care, and justice they deserve.
