The Thuthuzela Care Centre (TCC), situated at the Bongani Regional Hospital in Welkom, is a multi-disciplinary care center that deals with high levels of sexual violence against women and children, specifically rape.
In addition to professional medical care treatment, the center also provides counseling and even access to investigators and prosecutors.
The centre has a manager, a state advocate and three forensic nurses as well as two staff nurses and two social workers – all under one roof.
Centres such as these are essential facilities that provide comprehensive support services to survivors of gender-based violence (GBV), including medical care, legal assistance, and psychosocial support.
Visibility and awareness of these centres remain a constant challenge, leading to under-utilisation of services, says the TCC manager in Welkom, Rhee Skhosana.
