September 1, 2003
By Lucky Sindane
A HALFWAY HOUSE for women and children escaping from domestic abuse is to be opened by the end of the year in the centre of Braamfontein.
Ikhaya Lethemba Centre, which means Home of Hope, will be a secure sanctuary where women and children can stay for up to a year as they regain control over their lives, physically, emotionally and mentally.
The centre, run by the Gauteng Department of Safety and Liaison, will be a one-stop venue, with all the services needed by the residents on hand: psychological counselling, empathetic police officers, legal advisors, and medical services.
On a recent inspection of the development of the halfway house, Gauteng Premier, Mbhazima Shilowa, and MEC for Safety and Liaison, Nomvula Mokonyane, said the centre would play an important part in the eradication of violence and abuse of women.
"We want to restore the dignity of those whose rights have been violated," Mokonyane said.
During their time in the shelter, the women would be given the opportunity through various courses to develop life skills. Other courses would be run to help the residents to gain economic independence.
"A lot of progress has been made in our country to improve women's lives," Shilowa added. "Women are the most important people in our lives and we should treat them with respect. They are the ones that are mostly the victims of abuse and they are affected by poverty and unemployment."
Work on the centre in the Randkom building in Smit Street, Braamfontein, is expected to be complete by December.
Of primary concern was the security of the shelter, given the past experiences of the residents. Ikhaya Lethemba had to be a safe haven, where women and children could rest, secure in the knowledge that they would be protected, the MEC said.
"The centre will be protected by security cameras, a private security company and by the SAPS," said communication and information director for the Department of Safety and Liaison, Mongezi Mnyani.
Residents would be able to stay at the centre for anything up to between nine and 12 months, which would be long enough for the conclusion of court proceedings.
During their time in the centre, the women and children would also receive counselling to help them to make the transition back into society.
There was an urgent need for such a centre. In a statement from the Department of Safety and Liaison, it was estimated that in 1999 "between one in four and one in six women in South Africa were in abusive relationships, and that one woman was killed by a partner every six days".
Some of the abusers got away with their actions because of misleading explanations given to police officers, the premier said. "People lose hope and trust in the justice system when such things happen," Shilowa added.
Often children were promised gifts and sweets by their abusers in return for their silence. Rape victims found it difficult to talk about what happened. This centre would help such people to deal with their experiences.
Speaking on the need to be sensitive in dealing with abuse, Shilowa pointed out the changes that had been made to the court system. Children did not have to be in the same room as the perpetrator, testified via television cameras, and could use dolls to demonstrate what had happened to them.
"Members of the SAPS should be sensitive when taking statements from victims," said Shilowa.
Ikhaya Lethemba would also be a centre where advocacy and community awareness programmes would be offered.
"This is a break through, to have all the facilities in one place like this," said Piko Mlambo, the programme manager for crime prevention in the Department of Safety and Liaison. "We are very happy to see this integrated approach happening in our province."
The centre was expected to open in December and pledges for help had been received from Uthingo Trust, Mondi Papers, Italtile and Kunene Brothers.
