As we continue to commemorate Women’s Month, Western Cape Health & Wellness MEC, Mirelle Winger, says a whole of society approach is needed in order to defeat the scourge of gender-based violence.
SUPPLIEDWinger was speaking at the official launch of the Mitchells Plain Thuthuzela Care Centre, on Monday. TCCs are a one stop facility for survivors of GBV where they are able to receive psycho-social support, medical treatment, and legal services. These centres are also aimed at removing incidents of secondary victimisation and create a platform for building successful cases.
COURTESY: X - @DOJCD_ZAMitchell’s Plain is the tenth location in the Western Cape, and sixty-fifth in the country.
The Department of Justice and Constitutional Development,
the Natioanl prosecuting Authority and Public Protector was also part of the
launch
Wenger says the impact is mostly felt by victims. She
says
health officials revealed that gun violence remains the top causative factor
for GBV
‘’The opening of the TCC during women’s month is a stark
reminder that although a lot of progress has been made to overcome the
challenges and realise the aspirations to the women who marched in 1956, a lot
still needs to be done. This includes ending the scourge of GBV in communities
and society and there is no better demonstration of how we should go about
doing this by the work done and the support given at TCCs.’’
‘’The coordinated services provided at these Centres not
only ensure a caring a supporting environment for these victoms but also making
it more likely that law enforcement agencies will bring defenders to justice.’’
The Western Cape’s Social Development Facility Management
Director Marshionette Jonkerman says all those involved should work together to
create a future where everyone is safe, respected and valued.
Futhermore, there are 25 Family Violence, Child protection
and Sexual Offences (FCS) units in the Western Cape, and National Head of FCS,
Maj General Maghela, says the launch of the TCC in Mitchells Plain is a
critical one to curb domestic violence. She says more needs to be done to
educate the community.
‘’We cannot ignore the fact that communities need more awareness,
education relating to the GBVF pandemic. Communities are living in fear. We
need to fight harder and smarter as our victims often feel they are not believable.
GBV is a complex matter and not anyone is brave to open a case at SAPS. Even if
you want to motivate others, it is not easy, so even through the circumstances
(whether he is a breadwinner), abuse is wrong. It is our mandate to protect
each other.’’
The National Director of Public Prosecutions, Adv. Shamila
Batohi, says the Mitchells Plain TCC was operational since 8 July 2024, and
serves a community where there are high GBV cases with limited resources.
Batohi
says Thuthuzela Care Centres (TCC) are crucial to the fight against GBV.
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.
“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
there about, 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.
“We’ve 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… and it’s all about the services that are being rendered
that help victims to be able to go through the court processes.
“We’ve 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,” she added.
COURTESY: X - @DOJCD_ZA
Batohi says society needs to help men, in particular, in saying abuse is wrong.
“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, civil society in really trying to deal
with the scourge.
“That is why we all need to help to instill the right
values particularly in men. Unless we actually deal with [GBV] in a wholistic
way, we 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,” said Batohi.
Deputy Minister of Justice and Constitutional Development Andries Nel, who delivered the keynote address, welcomed the TCC, saying it was long overdue. Nel explained that Mitchell’s Plain has South Africa’s highest prevalence of crimes like common assault, drug related crimes, illegal possession of firearms and ammunition attempted murder – breeding a dangerous environment for women.
“This explains the environment within which GBVF is taking
place. It also underscores the point… that our Justice, Crime Prevention and
Security cluster, our criminal justice system, has an indispensable role to
play.
COURTESY: X - @DOJCD_ZA
“But the reality is, there’s a social and economic
foundation to these problems, which we are not going to solve without a broader
socio-economic transformation of our country, our communities but also the
active involvement of each and every citizen,” he added.
Deputy Minister Andries Nel outlines the critical function of Thuthuzela Care Centres in addressing gender-based violence. These centres provide holistic, victim-centric assistance and enhance legal outcomes. #EndGBV #JusticeForAll pic.twitter.com/pffIwnSFqv
— The DoJ & CD (@DOJCD_ZA) August 19, 2024
Nel said government is also working to ensure that the
number of TCCs – which provide crucial medical and psychosocial support to
victims – is increased throughout the country.
Done by: Mitchum George
No comments:
Post a Comment