Victims of gender-based violence and abuse have been encouraged to make use of Thuthuzela care centres.
“For victims of violence, the government has established Thuthuzela care centres to provide support to aid victims of rape and gender-based violence,” said the organisation’s deputy president David Mabuza.
“These centres are multi-disciplinary in approach,” he said.
“They pull together a basket of services provided by various departments and agencies under one roof.
“They also provide a one-stop hospital-based package of services for survivors of sexual violence.”
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Services provided include among others, medical assistance, legal and psychological management support across all the provinces.
Pretoria has three Thuthuzela care centres. They are in Mamelodi, Silverton and Laudium.
Mabuza said the fight against gender-based violence requires a multi-pronged approach to ensure women did not find themselves with no other choice but to stay in abusive relationships.
“Our response to violence and abuse of women and children calls for an integrated and a multi-faceted approach.
“As a society, we need to deal with gender stereotypes that continue to relegate women and girls to the bottom of the social hierarchy,” said Mabuza.
“No nation can succeed if it socialises its young boys to disrespect their mothers and disrespect their sisters.”
“All sectors of society must respect women as equal citizens.”
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