RSJC Archives - Rape Crisis

Join the Journey

The Rape Survivors Justice Campaign (RSJC) and its coalition partners intend to hold government accountable for the promised roll out of specialised sexual offences courts. These courts are specialised in offering the right kind of support to rape survivors when they need it most, and it is this factor that we believe is key to […]

25th Jun 2019/by zeenat

Factors that influence rape case attrition

RSJC

As discussed in our previous article, attrition of rape cases in South Africa is a matter of serious concern. The RAPSSA Report found that there were many different factors influencing the attrition of rape cases as they move through the criminal justice system. Some of these were due to the inefficiency and inconsistency of investigating […]

19th Jun 2019/by rapecrisisblog

From reporting to trial – how rape cases fall through the cracks.

RSJC

Crime is a systemic problem in South Africa and every year a huge number of cases are reported to the police. In 2017, for example, there were 49 660 sexual offences cases reported to the police in South Africa. But in how many of these cases does the offender actually go to jail? You would […]

19th Jun 2019/by rapecrisisblog

Court Room Architecture as Change

Advocacy

Attendees From the left: Nkhumi Tshivhase, Tohoyandou Victim Empowerment Centre. Jeanne Bodenstein, Advocacy Coordinator Rape Crisis Cape Town Trust and Kathleen Dey, Director of Rape Crisis Cape Town Trust. Photography by: Masimba Sasa The Rape Survivors Justice Campaign was delighted to attend the opening of the new Booysens magistrate’s court. Although it was a campaign […]

25th Apr 2019/1 Comment/by rapecrisisblog

Sorry, we have no space for rape apologists.

Advocacy

In October 2017 South African Kwaito star Sipho ‘Brickz’ Ndlovu strolled into the Roodepoort Magistrate’s Court wearing grey pants, a white shirt and a blue jersey. While his attire proved fairly neutral, his choice of accessory did not. Brickz completed his look with a heartless smile.

11th Apr 2019/1 Comment/by rapecrisisblog

The silent rape of sex workers

Making Change

In South Africa, cases about rape have become our daily news, whether you read it on the morning news headlines, watch it on prime-time television news or hear about it from your neighbour. The news has become synonymous to hearing about the weather.

2nd Apr 2019/1 Comment/by rapecrisisblog

Get Involved Now.

Advocacy

A new year always provides the opportunity to take on new challenges. Perhaps you are inspired to be more active in bringing about social change, but don’t know how. Our social media followers often ask us how they can get more involved with the Rape Survivors Justice Campaign (RSJC), so we have drafted an easy step-by-step guide:
Ways to be more politically and socially active

The next time you are with family or friends, instead of letting conversation drift to idle chatter or celebrity gossip, discuss a particular cause that is close to your heart or that you feel strongly about.
Stay focussed on one cause. It is fine to take up many causes, but always recognise your main cause.
Find a political magazine, a local newspaper or an online blog and write for them on issues relating to your cause.
Organize a group of four or five people and attend protests together.
Talk to people that are different from you as a way to challenge stereotypes.

25th Feb 2019/0 Comments/by zaheed

Just Another Feminist [Valentines] Day

Advocacy

The 14th of February, doesn’t have to be celebrated in the traditional way

13th Feb 2019/1 Comment/by farhana

PRESS RELEASE: SONA 2019

Making Change

Presidential Commitment to support for Rape Survivors: A Victory
During the State of the Nation Address, delivered on 7 February 2019, President Cyril Ramaphosa more than once mentioned the issue of gender based violence. He confirmed that more funds will be dedicated to places of support, such as Thuthuzela Care Centres, and that government is working to ensure the better functioning of Sexual Offences courts. Funds must be made available to civil society organisations who already provide specialist support services to survivors to continue to deliver and expand these services. This will mean that more rape survivors can access justice and support services.

We are pleased that the President committed to work with partners in civil society to implement the decisions of the National Summit on Gender-Based Violence and Femicide which took place last year.
We believe that all survivors of sexual offences should have access to a specialised court. Rape Crisis Director Kathleen Dey says, “We believe that the culture of impunity for perpetrators of rape will be addressed by a stronger criminal justice system with support services, sexual offences courts and more prosecutions”.

8th Feb 2019/0 Comments/by rapecrisisblog

Making strides in fighting for sexual offences courts

Making Change

The Rape Survivors’ Justice Campaign was conceived and established in 2016. We have one aim: the planned and funded rollout of sexual offences courts as promised by the government. This is a big ask and we envision that this long-term advocacy campaign will probably take at least ten years. Since our launch on Women’s Day in 2016 we have made great strides and progress and we will continue to build on this in the future.

Our campaign advocates for the national rollout of sexual offences courts to such an extent that all rape survivors will eventually have access to a specialised court. We believe that these courts should first be established in areas with high rates of reported sexual offences, which is one of the issues that we advocate for in the regulations and our engagement with the Department of Justice.

10th Oct 2018/0 Comments/by rapecrisisblog

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