Social Development
[1] Whether his Department has any support mechanisms for victims of rape and their families; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details;
[2] whether his Department has an avenue for communities to report crimes of this nature without exposing themselves to harm; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details?
Response:
[1] The Departments of Social Development’s Victim Empowerment Programme (VEP) has a core focus to render support services for victims of crime and violence, including victims of sexual offences. The VEP has a transfer budget of R 26 930 000 for Non Profit Organisations that renders victim empowerment services. These funded services include 16 shelters in the Western Cape and 20 funded social service organisations, that employ social workers, social auxiliary workers, psychologists and lay counsellors that augments the Department of Social Development’s own services to provide victim support services.
In particular the Victim Empowerment Programme funds the following organisations that render direct services to rape victims and their families:
|
Name of Organisation |
Type of service |
|
Rape Crisis Cape Town Trust |
Victim support services at the Thutuzela Care Centre’s ( One stop sexual offences courts) Court support at Parow, Wynberg and Khayelitsha Courts Aftercare and reintegration programme for rape survivors Victim support services at Victoria Hospital forensic unit. Community education workshops in Cape Town Metropol
|
|
Creating Effective Families ( CEF) |
Counselling and support services at the Mossel Bay Provincial Hospital
|
|
Mosaic |
Counselling and support services at the Thutuzela Care Centre ( TCC) in Worcester and Atlantis |
|
FAMSA Outeniqua |
Counselling and support services at George Thutuzela Care Centre ( TCC) |
|
Mitchells Plain Crisis Line |
Support groups for rape survivors and their families |
|
Mitchells Plain Network Opposing Abuse |
Victim support services to rape victims and their families |
|
Khuseleka model Saartjie Baartman Women’s centre |
Victim support services and shelter for rape victims |
|
Nonceba |
Counselling, therapeutic services and shelter for rape victims |
Response:
[2] The 20 funded social service organisations and 16 shelters have active community outreach project to educate community members about victim rights. These outreach projects and DSD own services actively encourage community members to report any sexual offence to SAPS and also provide the necessary emotional support. 365 days of no violence against women consists of major campaigns that educate the public on issues of rape and other human rights violations. These campaigns to mention a few: Human Rights Day; Social Development Month; August 9th; 16 Days of no violence that culminates in International Human Rights Day.
