launch of Mafikeng Thuthuzela Care Centre, Bophelong Hospital, Mafikeng
28 November 2006
Programme Director, Adv Thoko Majokweni
MEC for Health, Hon Nomonde Rasmeni
Executive Mayor of Mafikeng, Cllr Mosa Sejosengoe
National Director of Public Prosecutions, Adv Vusi Pikoli
Adv J P Mogoeng
North West Superintendent-General of Health, Dr Lydia Sebego
Representatives of the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) and the South
African Police Service (SAPS)
Representatives of the National Departments of Social Development, Health, and
Justice and Constitutional Development
The staff, patients and the community of Bophelong Hospital
Distinguished guests
Ladies and gentlemen
I would like to begin by wishing both the national Ministers of Health and
Justice and Constitutional Development, Dr Manto Tshabalala-Msimang and Ms
Brigette Mabandla, a speedy recovery from their respective bouts of illness. I
know they would have cherished the opportunity to be with us today as we
officially launch the Mafikeng Thuthuzela Care Centre for victims of sexual
offences.
I know for certain that both the national ministers care deeply about the
plight and welfare of our women particularly as encapsulated in our campaign of
16 Days of Activism for No Violence Against Women and Children, against which
background this launch takes place.
Nevertheless, I would like to thank the National Prosecuting Authority of
South Africa (NPA), particularly the Office of the Director of Public
Prosecutions, for inviting us to join the many organisations, companies,
government departments, community groups and professionals represented here to
reaffirm our collective commitment to act against abuse.
We also highly appreciate and thank the NPA for the good work they continue
to do in our province and country in relation to crime and even on seemingly
softer issues of finding missing persons.
We are very pleased that this launch takes place during the 16 Days Campaign
where the whole country, together with the international community, doubles the
efforts of ridding the world of all violence and abuse against our women and
children.
In particular, the Thuthuzela Care Centre holds a very special place in our
hearts as citizens of the North West and the greater Mafikeng in particular. It
is a living embodiment of how multiple stakeholders concerned with the welfare,
health and justice for our women and children can work together to achieve the
best results.
The Mafikeng Thuthuzela Care Centre is a multi-disciplinary and
inter-sectoral approach to care for the victims of rape and abuse. It is a
centre of excellence fully dedicated to attend to victims of sexual offences
and domestic violence as well as the management of victims of these abuses.
The Bophelong Hospital at which this Centre is located was specifically
identified by the stakeholders including the Departments of Health and Social
Development as well as the South African Police Service and the National
Prosecuting Authority of South Africa based on the number of cases reported in
the policing areas feeding into the Mafikeng Provincial Hospital.
Between January 2006 and September 2006 the Centre received an average of 28
victims per month, of which 16 were children. Then in the month of October 2006
alone, the Centre attended to 53 victims, 34 of whom were aged 0 to 18 years.
They were all rape victims.
This aforementioned statistics alone makes it clear that there has been a
marked increase in the number of reported cases. This is also a vital indicator
that sexual violence tends to be higher during the festive season and hence it
is so important that the centre is launched within this 16 Days programme and
that more people are made aware of its existence.
However, even though we are launching the centre today, I must stress that
the services have been available and will continue to be available 365 days a
year since the centre became operational in March 2005.
Established under the Proclamation for the creation of the Sexual Offences
and Community Affairs Unit of the National Prosecuting Authority Act of 1998
and as part of the Cabinet's anti-rape strategy, we are pleased that the Centre
is one among other examples where our laws are being actively and practically
supported by strong and relevant institutions such as the Thuthuzela Care
Centres. The Mafikeng Thuthuzela Care Centre is the third centre to be
established in the rural areas in a total of 10 centres across the entire
country. I know that the establishment of these centres has recorded
considerable success in both the reduction of sexual offences and the increased
prosecution of the offenders.
I am certain that Womenâs Groups in particular and other important lobby
groups will be pleased to note that indeed Government through the NPA and
Justice Department have begun to implement all the desired intentions and
provisions of our laws.
Based on the best practice model as identified by the Bureau for Justice
Assistance, these Centres bring together all crucial stakeholders while the
protocol for the Thuthuzela Care Centre sets out roles and responsibilities of
the various role players.
Most importantly, however, this model epitomises the intention of the role
players to collaboratively reduce secondary victimisation, increase the
conviction rates for sexual offences and reduce the cycle times of cases from
the date of reporting to finalisation of the case.
We are appreciative of the fact that the co-ordination of all these role
players, who include counsellors, the SAPS and health professionals, is in such
a manner that treats the victim in the most humane way, and that in turn
reduces secondary victimisation.
This means that at this one site, the Mafikeng Thuthuzela Care Centre, a
case is reported accurately, maintaining the integrity of vital evidence, while
a medical examination is performed as well as Sexual Assault Evidence
collection, Post Exposure Prophylaxis programme, counselling and a host of
other specialist services.
From here, each case will be referred to the Mmabatho Sexual Offences Courts
where the cases are prosecuted by specially trained prosecutors who consult
with the victim most meticulously and well in advance to ensure that there is
no outstanding investigation before the case is heard by the courts.
For us therefore, the Centre represents our most comprehensive approach to
sexual offences and abuse and it could not have been launched at a better time,
against the background of our campaign of 16 Days of Activism for No Violence
Against Women and Children whose provincial launch occurred on Friday last week
at Matlosana Stadium in Jouberton.
As the North West Provincial Government we are proud to say that the annual
16 Days of Activism campaign has become an integral part and one of the most
significant dates in our calendar.
It is an event that links us to the international community as we commonly
observe among other things International Human Rights Day, World Aids Day as
well as the International Day for the Disabled, which provincial event takes
place in Ganyesa on 3 December 2006.
During this period it is extremely important for us as a province and indeed
the whole country to unite in growing numbers and multiply our efforts to fight
and defeat violence against our women and children.
We must therefore commend the work of government and many non-governmental
and community-based organisations who struggle daily to respond to the needs of
those who experience such violence, particularly sexual violence and who
campaign tirelessly to prevent abuse of women and children.
During this period, we call on all those with the means, particularly our
private sector, to find ways to help resource all these organisations and
improve their capacity to undertake this important work of healing our people
and assisting the survivors to overcome their trauma.
In addition to such centres as the Mafikeng Thuthuzela Care Centre,
government and its agencies, including the SAPS, will during this period
critically review and enhance our capacity to respond to this pressing
challenge of sexual offences and violence against our women generally.
I believe strongly that we can together win this fight, and the 16 Days of
Activism campaign, against which background we launch the centre, is a clear
reminder to all of us that the freedoms for which we have fought can never be
fully appreciated as long as members of our society remain vulnerable to abuse
and violence, often by those closest to them.
Therefore the challenge we all face is to build a South Africa that truly
cares for women and children, a society in which this campaign, sooner rather
than later, become unnecessary.
We see the launch of this Care Centre as a critical arsenal in our battle to
fight this cancer of abuse and violence in our society and build a society that
is safe and respects the rights and dignity of our women.
In conclusion, we would like to encourage all women to take full advantage
of the centre and help us stem the tide of violence and abuse. Speak out and
break the silence whenever you are abused and when you witness abusive
situations.
Programme Director, please allow me now the important honour you have
bestowed upon me of officially launching the Mafikeng Thuthuzela Care
Centre.
I thank you.
Issued by: Office of the Premier, North West Provincial Government
28 November 2006
