At the start of Women's month this year, the gang rape of eight women at a mine dump in Krugersdorp made headlines in South Africa and abroad, adding to the country's blood-curdling statistics of femicide and violence against women.
These numbers, which are not only numbers but in fact people, are unacceptable when considering the loss of life, the violation of basic human rights and the trauma and devastation it leaves in its wake. As an activist having participated in these activities, one feels disillusioned by the number of petitions you sign in the name of ending GBV and one gets disheartened by increased reports of yet more violence, inequity, and human rights violations.There have been some strides on a policy level. Through donor support and innovation, GBV and intimate partner violence programmes and policies, have been more visible over the last three years.
When exploring our primary healthcare model, we could ensure that all community healthcare workers , HIV Counsellors and linkage officers are skilled to identify survivors and that each organisation has a well-documented referral pathway to counselling, legal, forensic, and clinical services. CHWs could identify and refer to local clinics or to Thuthuzela Centres appropriately once they have done trauma debriefing or trauma containment.