POWA speaks on the rise of GBV in Thembisa

To combat the second crisis of GBV plaguing the Thembisa community, People Opposing Women Abuse (POWA) is taking action.

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Thembisa is undoubtedly a hotspot for GBV, according to Thandiwe McCloy, communications manager.

“POWA is carrying out various services, which are free, to address the scourge of GBV and femicide in Thembisa. At the POWA Thembisa office, GBV survivors can undergo counselling.”

The organisation started working at the Masakhane Thuthuzela Care Centre (TCC) at Thembisa Hospital in August 2020.

“Situated across South Africa, TCCs deliver a one-stop service, including medical, legal and counselling services, for survivors of sexual and domestic violence, so they don’t face additional victimisation by being referred from one service to another.

“POWA social workers and social auxiliary workers based at the Masakhane TCC provide containment and counselling to abused women on a 24-hour basis.

“Containment, which is done by social auxiliary workers, includes calming down traumatised survivors before they undergo counselling with social workers and informing them of the medical procedure they will go through.

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“In addition to the Masakhane TCC, POWA social workers, social auxiliary workers and volunteers also began working at the Victim Friendly Rooms (VFRs) at the Olifantsfontein, Rabasotho, Thembisa South and Kempton Park Police Stations in October 2020.

“A VFR is a dedicated room in a police station to provide a space for victims of crime to make their statements in a private, non-threatening environment and to calm the victim down.

“A range of cases is dealt with in VFRs, including rape, trafficking in persons and physical abuse.

McCloy also states that POWA volunteers working in these stations are responsible for providing immediate practical support to gender-based violence survivors.

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This include writing down their names and contact details, detailing their experiences of abuse, providing information on available support services and referring them to relevant service providers.

“Volunteers then link them to social auxiliary workers to provide them with containment services, make counselling appointments with social workers and give them comfort packs with various items like sanitisers, toothpaste and roll-on, so they can wash and freshen up after receiving medical attention and counselling.

GBV survivors are encouraged not to bath before they receive medical care so as not to destroy crucial evidence,” said McCloy.

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