Government continues to forge ahead in mobilizing society to assist victims of gender based violence. GCIS recently conducted an inspection of 57 Thuthuzela Care Centres across the nine provinces to conduct a needs analysis per center and identify how corporates and civil society can better equip them with basic provisions such as sanitary wear and toys for children.
Success of the Thuthuzela Care Centres depends on the collective action of numerous partners, each bringing their own mandates, strengths, capacities and commitments to the call to action work of adopting a Centre. Corporates and various members of society are called upon to adopt and support Thuthuzela Care Centres which are one-stop facilities offering services in support of women and children who are victims of rape, which is a big part of gender-based violence.
A list of Thuthuzela Care Centres is available on https://www.gov.za/TCC . Companies who wish to respond to the call to adopt and support the Centres can contact the various Centre managers.
Thuthuzela Centres operate in public hospitals and communities where there is a particularly high number of rape incidents and they are also linked to Sexual Offences Courts .Services provided through these Care Centres mean that patients have ease of access to services and psychosocial support at one place with all the required resources.
The work done at the Thuthuzela Care Centres is very critical in the fight against gender-based violence and caring for victims of rape. Various companies that will adopt a Thuthuzela Centre will in the spirit of #ThumaMina heed the call by President Cyril Ramaphosa that all citizens should take a stand to stop violence against women and children.
Phumla Williams, Acting Director-General of GCIS said, “Gender-based violence is a societal problem that requires each one of us to commit ourselves to creating an environment that protects the women and children of this country. Let us pull resources and improve the available tools and systems set up to support women and children who are victims.
“As government, we are encouraged by the commitment shown by various sectors who partnered with us since the start of the campaign in July. Although a lot of work still needs to be done, we believe that together we can do more to reverse this situation and bring lasting change to this country”.
Victims of gender-based violence are urged to seek assistance by dialing the following toll-free numbers:
- Police 10111
- The GBV Command Centre on 0800 424 424 or 0800 150150
- ChildLine 0800 055 555
Follow the conversation on @SAGovNews or @GovernmentZA
Enquiries:
Phumla Williams
GCIS Acting Director-General
Cell: 083 5010 139
