What you need to know about rape

Learn about rape and how you can report it

What is rape?

Learn the facts that dispel common and harmful myths about rape

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What to do if someone has raped you?

Read the 10-step toolkit to learn more

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How to report rape?

Steps to follow when reporting rape, and the rights you can exercise while doing so

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Download our Resources

OUR WORK

As a feminist organisation, Rape Crisis is committed to working towards the achievement of women’s rights

Counselling

Supporting rape survivors on their Road to Recovery

Education and Training

Community workshops that dispel the myths and stereotypes about rape, and building a culture of consent in Cape Town High Schools

Advocacy and Community Mobilisation

Educating the public about and fighting for specialised support services for survivors of rape and sexual violence

Latest news & media

What we stand for

Our mission is to promote safety in communities, to reduce the trauma experienced by rape survivors, to encourage the reporting of rape and to work actively to address flaws in legislation

UNITY

Embracing diversity and acknowledging difference in order to work together as a team

GROWTH

Changing and supporting others to change

PURPOSE

Working towards organisational goals with focus and clear direction

HEALING

Helping reclaim stability, peace, safety and direction in life by supporting others

TEAM

The members of Rape Crisis are dedicated and passionate individuals all striving together to inspire change. Rape Crisis challenges myths and stereotypes (rape culture) through building a consent culture. It is a culture in which asking for consent is normalised and condoned in popular culture. It is respecting the person’s response even if it isn’t the response you had hoped for. When we create cultures of consent, respect, and positive sexuality, we can change how we understand sexuality and prevent sexual violence.

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HISTORY

Established in 1976, Rape Crisis is the most experienced organisation in South Africa working in the area of adult rape and sexual violence. Our roots are as a volunteer-run feminist women’s collective. We obtained NPO registration in 1997 and maintained our focus on the empowerment of women.

We have a national reputation for unique and innovative best practices models and our work consists of a range of projects that include direct services to survivors of rape and sexual violence, popular education and advocacy as essential components of a well-developed theory of change.

OPERATIONS

Our relationship with government, particularly at the provincial level, is collaborative (we share spaces at courts and health facilities with government service providers) but also challenging because we observe that government does not always serve the best interests of rape survivors.

Our close connection with the communities we serve gives us capacity for social mobilisation and our strong network of partners in civil society gives us support for lobbying influential role players at both the national and provincial levels of government.

Get involved

Find out how you can be a part of the team

VOLUNTEER

Become a counselling, advocacy or community educator volunteer

DONATE NOW

Support rape survivors on their road to recovery and healing

START A CROWDFUNDER

Start a crowdfunding campaign today and support our services and programmes through individual giving.

Download our toolkit

Get involved with us

Counselling

We provide free and confidential counselling for rape survivors

Monday – Thursday 09h00 – 16h30, and Friday 09h00 – 15h30

Counselling is offered in English, isiXhosa and Afrikaans at our offices in Observatory, Khayelitsha and Athlone

Contact one of our 3 helplines:

English 021 447 9762

isiXhosa: 021 361 9085

Afrikaans: 021 633 9229

WhatsApp counselling: 083 222 5164

Observatory Office:
23 Trill Road
Observatory
Tel: 021 447 1467

Athlone Office:
335a Klipfontein Road
Gatesville
Tel: 021 684 1180

Khayelitsha Office:
89 Msobomvu Drive
Khayelitsha
Tel: 021 361 9228