The National Director of Public Prosecutions, Advocate Shamila Batohi, says Thuthuzela Care Centres (TCC) are crucial to the fight against gender-based violence (GBV).

Batohi was delivering an address at the launch of a TCC at Mitchell’s Plain in the Western Cape, on Monday.

TCCs are a one stop-facility for survivors of gender-based violence (GBV), where they are able to receive psycho-social support, medical treatment and legal services.

‘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 said.

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.

‘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,’ Batohi said.

Source: South African Government News Agency