Picture: One of the Thuthuzela Care Centre across the country/Supplied
By OBAKENG MAJE
The North West Department of Social Development said even though the establishment of Thuthuzela Care Centres is not its competency, it funds Non-Profit Organisations (NPOs) based at the Thuthuzela Care Centres. The North West Social Development spokesperson, Petrus Siko said all Thuthuzela Care Centres across the country are functional.
This is contrary to some allegations that Thuthuzela Care Centre in Taung is not operational. Siko further said Thuthuzela Care Centres are the propagator of the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA). He added that Thuthuzela Care Centres are one stop facilities established as part of South Africa’s anti-rape strategy, aiming to reduce secondary victimisation and to increase prosecution (conviction) rate.
“The Department of Social Development is funding NGOs based at the Thuthuzela Care Centres and they have employed Social Workers and Victim supporters, who are rendering psycho-social support services to victims, containment and victim support at court.
“There are five Thuthuzela Care Centres in the North West. There are Thuthuzela Care Centres in Taung, Mahikeng, Potchefstroom, Klerksdorp and Rustenburg. All these centres are functional. There is a Thuthuzela Care Centre in Taung and it is functional,” said Siko.
Meanwhile, the National Director of Public Prosecutions, Advocate Shamila Batohi said Thuthuzela Care Centres are a crucial part of ending GBV scourge. Bathohi said the Thuthuzela Care Centres are a one stop-facility for survivors of Gender-Based Violence (GBV).
“By providing better quality of services, we do find that there is improved reporting. In 2020/21, when we had 60 TCCs, there were just short of 30 000 cases that were reported. In 22/23, there were 36 800 cases or so and this figure represents an increase of 24.3% in a two-year period.
“In the past eight years combined, the TCCs have dealt with 266 593 matters at all of its sites. These are only reported cases and we have noted improvements in the conviction rates. Since 2010, the conviction rate has improved from 60% to the current 77.5% as at the end of December 2023,” she said.
Batohi said it’s all about the services that are being rendered that help victims to be able to go through the court processes. She said that they have also noted an increase in long term sentences that are imposed by the courts.
“For the past two years, up to December 2023, the courts imposed 337 life imprisonment sentences, 236 sentences of between 20 to 25 years and 624 sentences of 10 to 15 years imprisonment. Despite the upward progress, Batohi emphasised that the courts merely deal with crimes that have been committed and that dealing with the roots of GBV is crucial.
“When victims come into these facilities, the offences are already committed and we try to help them on their journey towards healing but it’s not going to solve the problem. That is why the importance of our councillors, community based persons, and civil society in really trying to deal with the scourge,” she said.
According to Batohi, that is why they all need to help to instil the right values, particularly in men. She said unless they actually deal with [GBV] in a holistic way, they are not going to be able to deal with the scourge.
“Notwithstanding that, we continue to try to make sure that we help the victims on their journey towards becoming survivors,” she said.
The Guardian 