Shedding light on abuse for high school pupils
From left are Salt River High school teacher Cohen Charles, Western Cape Missing Persons Unit committee member, Rafiqa Booley, Spencer Road Clinic health promotion officer Ndilisa Mzayiya, Lighthouse Foundation founder Shariefa Job, South African Law School administrator Shahnaaz Bekko, and Mosaic Access to Justice staffers Noluthando Muzanenhamo and Chantel Herman.
Salt River High pupils heard from various organisations last week about how victims of sexual and physical abuse can get help.
The programme was organised by the Lighthouse Foundation non-profit organisation and was held at St Luke's Anglican Church in Salt River.
Representatives from Mosaic Access to Justice, the Western Cape Missing Persons Unit (WCMPU), the Spencer Road Clinic and the South African School of Law spoke to 90 Grade 11 pupils.
Chantel Herman, from Mosaic, said a victim of abuse could apply for a protection order.
“A protection order can be applied for either at a court in the area near where the perpetrator stays or a court close to where the victim stays or even at a court close to where the incident took place.”
The victim should not be discouraged if the incident took place in another province, she said. “That file can be transferred back to the province you live in so that you can have access to justice."
Another Mosaic staffer, Noluthando Muzanenhamo, said Thuthuzela care centres at hospitals provided medical testing, counselling and legal support to rape victims. “This all happens in a safe space for victims.”
Ndilisa Mzayiya, a health promotion officer from the Spencer Road Clinic, said the clinic provided free emergency contraceptive pills and post-exposure prophylaxis against HIV.
Rape victims should not take a bath before reporting the crime to the police as it could destroy evidence, she said.
WCMPU committee member Rafiqa Booley told the pupils to always tell their parents or family where they were going even if they were just going to the shop.
“They should share the numbers of their friends with their parents just in case they don’t return then the family can contact the friends.”
The founder of the Lighthouse Foundation, Shariefa Job, said it provided support to victims of abuse.
“If called, we will go to the scene, will help them report the case, and provide a safe escort to the hospital for them.”
Salt River High School teacher Cohen Charles, who accompanied the pupils, said the programme had helped to highlight misconceptions about abuse.
Call 083 443 3546 to contact the Lighthouse Foundation, WhatsApp 082 225 2612 for the WCMPU and call 021 761 7585 for Mosaic Access to Justice.
