Confidence to seek justice in the Free State

Advocate Nqwenelwa Mazwi, provincial manager of the National Prosecuting Authority’s Sexual Offences and Community Affairs (SOCA) Unit in the Free State, highlights the tangible progress made by Thuthuzela Care Centres (TCCs) in recent years.

The Thuthuzela project, led by SOCA in collaboration with various departments and donors, aligns directly with President Cyril Ramaphosa’s commitment to addressing gender-based violence.

“We have four TCCs in the Free State and are currently building a TCC at the Elizabeth Ross Hospital in Phuthaditjhaba in QwaQwa, which we are very excited about,” Advocate Mazwi states, outlining the growth in infrastructure and reach.

She explains that the TCCs play a critical role not only in offering comprehensive support to those affected by GBV but also in instilling confidence in survivors to seek help and justice. “There is always someone there to hold your hand, from the beginning to the end of the process. When people hear about this, it makes them more willing to come forward.”

Beyond their premises, TCCs lead impactful campaigns to drive awareness and mitigate the root causes of GBV in the communities they serve. One example in the Free State is the ‘Tavern Project’, specifically targeted at taverns as problematic sites for incidents of GBV.

TCCs also actively distribute educational materials to hundreds of schools, covering crucial topics such as understanding sexual assault and the legal consequences of rape.

“We are having huge impacts in our community. This is also because of the GBV Summit which the President started in 2018, and also held in 2022, as well as the recent changes in GBV legislation,” notes Advocate Mazwi. “The entire country is becoming more passionate about fighting GBV and coming up with ways to report and prosecute these cases.”