WHERE TO GO FOR HELP IN MAKHANDA

The national GBV Emergency Line is 086 00 10 111.

Locally, you can access the Makana

Rape Survivors Support

Group and Safehouse through the South African Police Service (SAPS) Community Service Centre. If you tell someone at the desk that you’ve experienced genderbased violence, they will contact a member of the Support Group to help and support you.

The Support Group provides on-going care and support for survivors of gender-based violence, starting with counselling and personal care directly after an incident. A member of the Support Group will only ask the survivor if they are ready to give a statement to the police, or open a case, once they are ready. They will also accompany the survivor to the hospital for a medical examination.

Should the survivor and their family be unable to return home, a Safe House is available. The location of the Safe House is kept secret for the safety of the people who stay there.

The Support Group told Grocott’s

Mail that they see a high number of survivors, particularly women and young children. In Makhanda survivors should report the case to the police to more readily easily access crucial medical services, such as Post-exposure Prophylaxis (PEPS), and STD/STI screening.

For security reasons, no phone number nor address is available for these services. Residents are pleased asked to visit the Grahamstown or Joza SAPS Community Service Centre.

Information adapted from an article in Grocott’s Mail by Kathryn Cleary.