AS part of the 16 Days of Activism for No Violence Against Women and Children campaign, Deputy Minister of Justice and Constitutional Development, Andries Nel, officially launched the Sexual Offences Court at the Mthatha Magistrate’s Court last week.
In addition, he hosted an Imbizo at O.R. Tambo Hall in Mthatha, focusing on Gender-Based Violence and Femicide (GBVF) issues. Both initiatives demonstrated a firm commitment to addressing violence against women and children. He emphasised the government’s dedication to combating GBVF.
“We cannot rest while gender-based violence and femicide continue to erode peace and security in domestic relationships, communities, and society at large. Our social and family constructs, rooted in patriarchal practices, toxic masculinities, and gendered power inequalities, contribute to family dysfunction, solo parenting, the economic disempowerment of women, poverty, gender-based violence, and domestic homicides,” said Nel.
He expressed outrage over the increase in sexual offences and femicide cases in the Eastern Cape. He cited recent incidents, including the rape of seven Grade 12 learners in Mqhekezweni and the horrific massacre of 18 women in Lusikisiki, where a two-month-old baby was found lying atop the body of its deceased mother.
“It is heartbreaking and distressing. GBV in South Africa is not only perpetrated by adults but also by children, sometimes even in inter-generational relationships. In the first two quarters of this financial year, our courts registered 862 children charged with sex crimes. Of these, 37 were as young as 12 years old — a deeply concerning issue.”
Nel further revealed that 78.6% of the 1,666 new sexual offence cases registered in courts nationally involve rape charges. The Mthatha Regional Court is consistently among the top 10 courts with the highest number of new rape cases, ranking eighth in recent statistics.
The newly launched Sexual Offences Court in Mthatha is victim-centric and designed to address the psychological and emotional needs of survivors of sex crimes.
“These courts provide a continuum of victim-support services, from the entry to the exit point of the court system. Survivors wait in private rooms, away from the public eye, and receive court preparation services to help them testify with confidence. Children, older persons, and individuals with certain disabilities may testify with the assistance of trained intermediaries in private rooms, ensuring minimal contact with the accused.”
Eastern Cape Director of Public Prosecutions, Berry Madolo, expressed gratitude for Nel’s visit and highlighted the challenges faced in the region.
“Mthatha is often in the news for incidents in areas like Bityi, Lusikisiki, and Qumbu. However, the Thuthuzela Care Centres are doing incredible work in supporting victims. These centres involve dedicated teams from various sectors and play a critical role in ensuring justice is served in courts,” said Madolo.
He added that the centres make court proceedings less intimidating for victims, using technology such as cameras and televisions to allow survivors to testify from separate rooms.
“We hope all courts can eventually have dedicated Sexual Offences Courts. This is especially important in rural areas, where it is challenging to bring people to Mthatha. While this will not happen overnight, we are working towards this goal with the support of NGOs and the private sector.”
Madolo acknowledged the financial constraints of the government in building more Thuthuzela Care Centres but praised private companies for their contributions to this critical cause.
