A survey conducted by Doctors Without Borders, at their inaugural South African National Conference on Violence, revealed that an estimated 11 000 women in North West are raped annually. The survey further indicates that 49% of the 11 000 experienced intimate partner violence.

Over 800 women made up this survey, with a focus on the Rustenburg’s Platinum Mining Belt, and were between the ages of 18-49 years. It reveals that one in four women has been raped in her lifetime, with approximately half of women reporting experiences of sexual violence or physical intimate partner violence.

In reacting to this survey, the Democratic Alliance Women’s Network (DAWN)in the North West Province is now calling for the on the North West Provincial Government (NWPG) to implement an integrated programme to deal with the alarming rise in gender-based violence in the province. According to DAWN’s North West Provincial Leader Cllr Bea Campbell-Cloete , the survey’s results are a clear indication that women in the North West are not safe, women continue to live under threat and without protection.

“The NWPG needs to invest more in building safe houses, ensure victim support and assistance and programmes to educate men. We need an overhaul of the South African Police Service (SAPS), we must ensure that police are professional, well-trained and well-resourced to deal with issues pertaining to gender-based violence.” Campbell-Cloete said.

Doctors point to the limited availability of services in the province, sighting in their report a partnership with the North West Province Department of Health, that piloted the expansion of a patient-centred response to sexual violence, including a clinical mentorship programme for professional nurses on the care and management of sexual violence a couple of years ago.

Minewhile, the DA is calling for an establishment of an ad-hoc committee to investigate the systemic causes of gender-based violence and map out long-term solutions. “The government needs to invest in school and societal education programmes on women abuse. The North West also needs to establish sexual offences courts to ensure that perpetrators are arrested and prosecuted for their crimes.” Expressed Campbell-Cloete.

According to Doctors Without Borders’ Medical Co-ordinator Amir Shroufi, what’s urgently required is a patient-centred approach to rape and sexual violence that prioritises the medical and psychosocial needs of survivors. For this to happen more trained staff and more widely available comprehensive services are needed.

-DA NW Media

-MSF

-The VIP Team