Rape in Khayelitsha

We had a long chat with Nontutuzelo Ntwana (Ntuthu), a former nurse who is now a coordinator for the Centre.  The Centre was opened officially in Site B in August 2005. The Simelela Centre aims to provide a comprehensive service to rape survivors.  This includes forensic and counselling services, as well as a referral service to the HIV clinic in Site B.  They also perform community interventions to fight rape and to support victims of rape. Theirs is an integrated service including involvement from the police, the justice system and social services.  At present, 16 locum doctors and as many as 20 locum nurses run the centre.  All cases reported to the police are referred to the district surgeon and for counselling.

At the moment Simelela has an anti-rape programme running at primary schools in Khayelitsha.  They have contracted a drama group to go to all primary schools in Khayelitsha to raise awareness against rape. With the increase of incidents against very young children, Simelela has extended their programme to crèches as of 2008. They ran their campaign in the crèches from the 25th August to 19th September 2008. When they work with very young children, they use puppets to illustrate their meaning.

They also work with the day hospitals and doctors in Khayelitsha. They encourage all adults to refer any suspicious behaviour or incidents to them.

Ntuthu advised that it is best to report rape or any sexual assault within the first 3 days.  This allows the staff at the Centre to take steps to prevent STDs, HIV, other infections and pregnancy.  It also creates the opportunity for the victim to talk to someone who understands what they have experienced.  She says "Counselling is the most important step.  Even if the person doesn't open a case, it's advisable for them to know they have options to take".

If you are or become the victim of rape or any form of sexual assault, remember the following:

  1. Tell someone you trust
  2. Though you can go anytime after the incident, it is best for you to go to Simelela within 3 days after the rape for medical and social support.  Do not wait - you only have 3 days to prevent HIV transmission!
  3. Do not wash your body before medical examination
  4. Do not change your clothes

On the morning that we visited, we were taken on a tour of the Centre.  We saw the examination rooms, the medical kits, the bathrooms where victims are allowed to clean themselves after they are examined, and the toys that are used to help young victims feel some comfort.  We heard the stories of the staff, and felt the pain and anger they feel on behalf of the victims they see and assist.  We saw two victims of rape at the Centre that morning.  We didn't want to stare at them, but it was impossible to not look.  Their eyes were so empty.  It was like something essential had been stolen from them.  That day changed something in all of us. 

It is impossible to visit the Centre, meet the staff, see the people they work with, and walk away the same person.  We felt such respect and admiration for the staff of the Centre who come face-to-face with brutality everyday, and manage to overcome its effects.  We felt indescribable sorrow for the victims of these crimes, most of whom just happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong time.  1 in every 3 females in Khayelitsha will be a victim of an act of sexual violence in her lifetime.

Most of all, we were forced to think about rape as a social disease in South Africa.  We were forced to ask ourselves uncomfortable questions like:

  1. Why does South Africa have the highest rate of rape in the world?
  2. Why does Khayelitsha have one of the highest rates of rape in South Africa?
  3. What would motivate a human being to perpetrate such a despicable act on another?
  4. Rape is often said to be an act of establishing power over another person.  Why would anyone need to claim their power over a 1-year-old baby, or a 76-year-old woman?

We had many such questions and our research over the last few weeks show that there are mainly questions, but not enough answers.  We are committed now that we will keep searching, and we will write up the answers for our readers as we find them.  Our visit to the Simelela Rape Centre made us feel ashamed of our city and our country.  South Africans fought so hard to be free, we are a nation of freedom fighters, and now we need to fight again. 

Rapists are criminals.  They infringe on any number of our rights as South Africans and human beings, and we need to start treating them as such.  People who rape betray our democracy.  As proud South Africans, it is our duty to stand up and refuse to allow them to victimise us, our elders, and our children any longer.

 For more information and advice on this subject, go to:

http://www.msf.org.za/articles/article_simelela1year_200806.htm

http://70.84.171.10/~etools/newsbrief/2006/news0824.txt

http://www.news24.com/News24/South_Africa/News/0,,2-7-1442_2376883,00.html

http://www.iol.co.za/index.php?set_id=1&click_id=15&art_id=vn20060824130755728C585100

http://www.iol.co.za/index.php?click_id=13&set_id=1&art_id=vn20080718113219397C879047

http://www.tac.org.za/newsletter/2004/ns15_12_2004b.html

http://www.mg.co.za/article/2008-08-14-forced-to-face-up

For more rape centres, click here

http://www.rapecrisis.org.za/index.php/about-rape-crisis/partnerships