Abstract: Submission #117

Abstract Gender-Based Violence (GBV) is one of the leading social ills that remains a challenge in South Africa. It is usually violence between two adults, however, not much is spoken about the children who witness the violence. Due to the poor living conditions that some Black families find themselves living in urban South African townships, children are often exposed to violence within the home environment. These circumstances include dire living conditions experienced in informal settlements or overcrowding where families of more than three people dwell in one backroom. This study explored the long-term effects that affect the children who witness GBV as they get affected indirectly. The study employed a qualitative research approach and adopted a case study design. Eight social workers from organizations in four townships in Gauteng who had worked with child victims of GBV were interviewed. The participants were invited through snowball sampling techniques. Data was collected through one-on-one individual interviews using a semi-structured interview schedule. The findings of this study revealed that there is a need for child secondary victims of GBV to get access to counselling services after witnessing violence at home as a way of processing and dealing with the long-term effects of psychological trauma.