Thuthuzela Care Centre launched in Themba Hospital

A one-stop facility that provides pretrial services for victims of gender-based violence (GBV) was relaunched at Themba Hospital on November 13.

This was made possible through a partnership between the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) and Vodacom.

The Thuthuzela Care Centre (TCC) provides psychosocial support, medical treatment and legal services aimed at reducing secondary victimisation and building a case ready for successful prosecution.

The NPA established the centre at Themba Hospital in 2008. It serves a vast jurisdiction, characterised by high crime rates in areas such as Masoyi, KaNyamazane and White River.

The national Director of Public Prosecutions, Shamila Batohi, said: “Thuthuzela means ‘to comfort’. We want to reduce the secondary traumatisation of GBV victims. The centre should be up to standard, a space where victims are able to get the necessary services even before they speak to an officer. The centre has a police officer, social worker and prosecutor available, so they get these services under one roof. We want to make sure the victim is able to testify in court.”

She touched on the delays in sexual offence cases and how they are mostly caused by forensic testing.

“Two or three years ago, there was a massive backlog of DNA reports mainly for sexual offences and GBV cases, but also murders. The police and the NPA have since started a project to clear this backlog. As a result, the SAPS has identified the top 10 serial rapists in each region as a strategic way to deal with GBV more broadly,” she said.

The MEC for health, Sasekani Manzini, talked about teenage pregnancy and how most of it is a result of rape. She said the TCC will assist with issues of that nature.

“The only reason we are here is because of men. If you men begin saying: ‘Not in my name,’ then GBV will end,” she said.

Vodacom SA’s CEO, Sitho Mdlalose, highlighted how the company is using its technology to help reduce GBV incidents.

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“We have an app called Bright Sky, which is available to download for free on any device. It gives the user the ability to journal and document information related to the abuse they might be experiencing. The app also has an educational element to give examples of what GBV is, because some people might be experiencing abuse without knowing what it means.”

The event included a grocery handover from SPAR. The donations will be used for the victims who visit the centre.

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