Johannesburg -
Gauteng’s busiest and biggest rape crisis centre has been without premises for nearly a year.
Rape victims who sought help at the Thuthuzela Care Centre on the East Rand were forced to wait with ordinary patients at Natalspruit Hospital, often with members of their own community, leaving the door wide open for secondary victimisation.
When the hospital moved from Katlehong to its new premises in Vosloorus last year, planners forgot to make provision for the care centre and were forced to convert the hospital’s crèche, according to a hospital official.
But Mbangwa Xaba, spokesman for Gauteng’s Infrastructure Development Department, said facilities for Thuthuzela were planned and designed in 2005 and space was provided adjacent to the accident, emergency and trauma units.
“However, when construction of the new Natalspruit Hospital was completed, we realised that the space provided was no longer adequate and more space was required,” said Xaba.
“In retrospect, further planning and funding were approved in April 2014. Due to more critical changes required before the relocation in August 2014, the crèche was left until all the critical work was completed. The contractor commenced with the changes after the relocation to the new hospital,” he said.
But a hospital official told Saturday Star that there was in fact no space for Thuthuzela because facilities for the crèche, such as toilets and basins for small children, were already built and had to be converted.
The official said the centre had seen 121 rape victims in December alone, with close to 100 in January. But some victims who arrived there for help had left before they could be counselled.
“The centre, which also assists neglected and abused children, is currently located within the hospital’s Gateway Clinic for Family Medicine.
“These people must sit in the same waiting room with normal patients. Because the centre works out of just two rooms, many people leave before they can be helped.”
The official said nurses are forced to use one room to store their belongings and have their lunch, and the same room is used as a victims’ examination room and counselling room.
“It is so important for rape survivors to feel secure and that they are being assisted.
“They need to know their dignity will be restored. But in such an unconducive environment it is just not possible. Many of them feel victimised all over again, because there is no privacy.”
Xaba admitted the project of relocating Natalspruit Hospital suffered some setbacks including delayed payments to the contractor.
“Even though some services are still outstanding, the bulk of the invoices of R12 million were settled in December 2014,” he said.
“Only R6 million is still outstanding and this has already been submitted for payment. This payment is imminent and we expect the contractor to commence work as soon as the outstanding payment has been made.”
Xaba said major building works including a mechanical ventilation system and all the cabling work had been completed and connected to the electricity.
“The only electrical work still outstanding is the connection to the hospital backbone,” he said.
Saturday Star