National Shelter Movement Of South Africa

What National Shelter Movement Of South Africa does

The National Shelter Movement of South Africa (NSMSA) is a non-profit umbrella organization founded in 2008 to coordinate and advocate on behalf of gender-based violence (GBV) shelters across South Africa's nine provinces. The organization represents approximately 95-100 member shelters, with the Nisaa Institute for Women's Development serving as its secretariat. NSMSA positions itself as the unified national voice on sheltering for abused women and their children, providing a network layer above individual shelter operations. Its governance comprises a Head of Executive (Dr. Zubeda Dangor), a National Coordinator (Anisa Moosa), Board Members, and nine Provincial Shelter Representatives.

The organization's core service is the 24-hour toll-free National GBV Shelter Helpline (0800 001 005), complemented by SMS/WhatsApp contact options and an online shelter directory that directs survivors to nearby member shelters. NSMSA operates the Action Learning Shelter Model—a capacity-building framework developed with the Nisaa Institute that has mentored 11 shelters across 8 provinces over two years—and convenes an annual GBV Shelter Indaba now in its fifth iteration as of November 2025. The organization engages in national and international advocacy, including participation in the Global Network of Women's Shelters and the 5th World Conference of Women's Shelters in Sydney (September 2025), and produces publications including the 'Turning the Tide' Shelter Model Handbook and the 'Raising Women's Voices' series.

NSMSA is funded through a mix of government grants from the Department of Social Development and public donations, including a Back-a-Buddy crowdfunding campaign launched in mid-2025. Government funding covers less than 40% of member shelter operating costs, with NSMSA supplementing this through donations and partner support from entities such as the Heinrich Boell Foundation. All services to survivors are provided free of charge, and the organization operates without a proprietary technology platform, relying instead on the helpline infrastructure, online resources, publications, and in-person convenings.

Name

National Shelter Movement Of South Africa

Legal name

National Shelter Movement Of South Africa

Website

https://nsmsa.org.za

Company type

Private

Founded year

2008

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

NSMSA is a South African non-profit umbrella organization founded in 2008 that coordinates approximately 95-100 gender-based violence shelters across all nine provinces, operating a 24-hour national helpline, capacity-building programs, and policy advocacy for survivors.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Gender-Based Violence Shelter Services

NAICS

Individual and Family Services (6241), Temporary Shelters (624221), Community Housing Services (62422), Community Food and Housing, and Emergency and Other Relief Services (6242)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Domestic Violence & Abuse Support Services (BPAGAEAD)

akta.pro secondary industries

Protection, Child Protection & Gender-Based Violence (GBV) Response (BPAGAAAG), Emergency Shelter, Camp Management & Non-Food Items (NFI) (BPAGAAAC), Protection Services (GBV, Child Protection, Safeguarding) (BPADAHAF)

Keywords

• Gender-based violence shelters
• Domestic violence support services
• Shelter helpline referrals
• Survivor advocacy programs
• Nonprofit capacity building

Headquarters

HQ city

Gauteng

HQ country

South Africa

HQ region

Africa

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Government Grants: NSMSA receives funding from the Department of Social Development to support shelter operations, though the organization reports that government funding covers less than 40% of operational costs.
2. Public Donations: The organization runs a Back-a-Buddy fundraising campaign to support the GBV Shelter Helpline and shelter services. Private sector and individual donations supplement government funding.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

NSMSA is a non-profit umbrella organization that coordinates approximately 95–100 gender-based violence shelters across South Africa's nine provinces. Its core offering is a 24-hour toll-free National GBV Shelter Helpline (0800 001 005) providing crisis support, shelter placement referrals, and counselling to survivors of gender-based violence, supported by an online shelter directory. The organization also delivers the Action Learning Shelter Model for capacity building and convenes the annual GBV Shelter Indaba for stakeholder engagement.

Product overview

The National Shelter Movement of South Africa (NSMSA) operates as an umbrella organization providing advocacy, coordination, and support services for approximately 100 GBV shelters nationwide. Its core offerings include a 24-hour National GBV Shelter Helpline and Shelter List directory for survivor referrals, the Action Learning Shelter Model for capacity-building, and the annual GBV Shelter Indaba for stakeholder engagement. The organization also produces publications including annual reports, the 'Turning the Tide' shelter guidelines handbook, and the 'Raising Women's Voices' series documenting survivor experiences.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• National GBV Shelter Helpline: 24-hour toll-free shelter helpline (0800 001 005) for victims of gender-based violence

Products and services

• National GBV Shelter Helpline A 24-hour toll-free helpline (0800 001 005) providing crisis support, shelter placement referrals, counselling services, and legal guidance for gender-based violence survivors across South Africa. Available to women and children escaping domestic violence and gender-based violence.
• Shelter List Directory A directory of member shelters and safe houses across all nine provinces of South Africa, enabling victims of gender-based violence to locate and access emergency accommodation. Available on the NSMSA website at nsmsa.org.za/shelter-list/.
• Action Learning Shelter Model A capacity-building framework developed with the Nisaa Institute providing practical tools, mentoring, and governance support to improve survivor-centred services and shelter sustainability. Piloted across 11 shelters across 8 provinces over two years.
• GBV Shelter Indaba An annual national conference convening shelter stakeholders, government departments, and advocacy groups to address gender-based violence policy, funding, and service delivery challenges. The 5th Annual Indaba was held in November 2025.
• Nisaa Turning the Tide Shelter Model Handbook Guidelines for caring and effective shelters for survivors of GBV, serving as an invaluable tool for the organizational development of GBV shelters by Boards of Management, managers, and staff members.
• Raising Women's Voices in South African Shelters A three-part publication series on women's experiences in shelters, documenting survivor narratives and shelter practices in South Africa.

Quantifiable outcome

• Record public education outreach with 44 webinars and 25 press releases in 2025
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Nisaa Institute for Women's DevelopmentcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2008The Nisaa Institute for Women's Development serves as the secretariat for NSMSA. Together they developed the Action Learning Shelter Model and the 'Turning the Tide' Shelter Model Handbook. The partnership focuses on capacity building, governance support, and research for GBV shelters.
• Department of Social DevelopmentcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Department of Social Development is a key government partner that provides funding and collaborates on policy initiatives. They co-hosted the 5th Annual GBV Shelter Indaba with NSMSA in 2025.
• Heinrich Boell FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Heinrich Boell Foundation is a political foundation affiliated with the German Green Party that supports the NSMSA Indaba and GBV advocacy work in South Africa.
• Sahara Shelter in PhoenixminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerA member shelter of NSMSA's network in KwaZulu-Natal. Nadia Munsamy serves as both NSMSA's KwaZulu-Natal Shelter Representative and as a Social Worker at Sahara Shelter.
• Global Network of Women’s Shelters (GNWS)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNSMSA participates in the Global Network of Women's Shelters and hosted events at CSW 66 in March 2022. The network facilitates international collaboration on GBV shelter issues.
• AfriDocsminorGTM or Marketing PartnerAfriDocs collaborated with NSMSA to screen the documentary 'Dorpie' at the 5th Annual GBV Shelter Indaba, highlighting realities of small-town GBV.
• The Safe House ProjectminorGTM or Marketing PartnerArt and activism initiative that brought textile storytelling and community messages to honor survivors at the NSMSA Shelter Indaba.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Refuge (UK): UK charity running specialist shelters and the National Domestic Abuse Helpline. Comparable in operating shelters plus a national helpline for GBV survivors, with broader service scope than NSMSA.
• National Domestic Violence Hotline (US): US-based 24/7 helpline providing crisis support and shelter referrals for domestic violence survivors. Directly comparable to NSMSA's National GBV Shelter Helpline as a referral and crisis-coordination service.
• Sonke Gender Justice: South African gender equality organization working on GBV prevention, policy, and men's engagement. Comparable in GBV advocacy scope and government engagement, though operating across a broader portfolio than shelter coordination.

Regional players

• Kvinna till Kvinna: Swedish foundation funding women's rights organizations and shelters across conflict and post-conflict regions. Comparable as a coordinating/funding intermediary for GBV shelter networks outside South Africa.
• Women's Aid (UK): UK national federation of domestic abuse services coordinating member organizations and the National Domestic Abuse Helpline. Directly comparable as a national umbrella/membership body for shelters and survivor services.
• Women's Refuge (New Zealand): National network of women's shelters in New Zealand providing safe accommodation and advocacy. Directly comparable as a national umbrella coordinating a shelter network, though operating in a different geography.

Others

• Lifeline South Africa: South African crisis helpline providing 24/7 support across multiple issues including gender-based violence. Comparable as a free national crisis line and referral infrastructure, though not shelter-specific.

Direct peers

• People Opposing Women Abuse (POWA): South African NGO providing shelters, counseling, and advocacy for women survivors of GBV. Directly comparable mission and beneficiary population, and a likely candidate member of NSMSA's shelter network.
• Nisaa Institute for Women's Development: South African women's rights organization that serves as NSMSA's secretariat and co-developed the Action Learning Shelter Model. Directly comparable on GBV service delivery, shelter support, and research in South Africa.
• Global Network of Women's Shelters (GNWS): International umbrella organization for women's shelters that convenes the World Conference of Women's Shelters. NSMSA is an active member and facilitated the Africa Regional Caucus at 5WCWS — directly comparable as a network-of-shelters convener.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/NSM_ZA
• YouTubeyoutube.com/@nationalsheltermovement
• Facebookfacebook.com/NationalShelterMovementSA
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/national-shelter-movement-of-south-africa-nsmsa

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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