GBV survivor empowers others through victim centre
Nobesuthu Ramukhotheli founded Thy Rest to support and empower victims through healing, skills training, and advocacy.
POLOKWANE – Nobesuthu Ramukhotheli has transformed her personal trauma into a mission of healing and empowerment.
A survivor of rape at the age of seven, Ramukhotheli stayed silent for nearly three decades, until she found her voice by creating a safe space for others like her, she said.
“Rape has a way of silencing victims through fear of judgment, disbelief, and the trauma of having to relive it. Many cases go unreported for these reasons. My mission was to create a space where victims are heard, believed, and supported throughout their journey – from victim to survivor.”
Her organisation, Thy Rest GBVF Victim Empowerment Centre and Shelter, is dedicated to supporting victims of gender-based violence and femicide (GBVF) through compassion, healing, and empowerment.
“Our message is clear: there is life to be lived beyond the incident. We treat every person with love, patience and understanding as they heal,” she added.
While initially focused on female survivors of rape, Thy Rest has since expanded its services to include all GBVF victims, regardless of gender.
Though the shelter facility currently accommodates only women due to funding constraints, the centre provides broader services such as counselling, skills training and economic empowerment programmes.
The training initiatives include sewing, gardening, nail care, beading, makeup, and financial literacy – all aimed at helping survivors regain financial independence and escape cycles of abuse. Now in its tenth year, Thy Rest has helped many women rebuild their lives.
“Some of our beneficiaries have gone on to complete their education, leave prostitution and substance abuse behind, and reclaim their futures,” said Ramukhotheli.
Funding, however, remains a critical obstacle. Despite having a fully furnished 14-bed shelter, the facility has been inactive for the past three years due to a lack of resources. “You cannot take in residents without the means to cover their basic needs for at least four consecutive months.
This includes food, clothing, toiletries, medication, and a house mother’s stipend. This amounts to roughly R50 000 per month,” she said.
Beyond survivor support, Ramukhotheli is also working to localise South Africa’s National Strategic Plan (NSP) on GBVF.
“The NSP is a 10-year plan now in its fifth year, yet many community leaders and stakeholders remain unaware of it. That’s why we’re rolling out a series of workshops targeting traditional council leaders, faith-based organisations, traditional healers, and teachers – so they can become informed advocates.”
Thy Rest is also mobilising resources for the reactivation of their shelter and the launch of a new victim empowerment centre at the Phaudi Police Station.
