Khayelitsha has the highest rape prevalence rate in Cape Town, one of the highest in the country. The youngest case so far was a one-year-old baby and the oldest, a 69-year-old grandmother. The vast majority of the survivors are female and most are 18 years old or younger. More than one-in-three cases were girls aged 14 and younger.

Fifty-eight percent of rape survivors knew their attackers and there is an even higher (69%) chance that the children under 14-years knew their attackers. “Despite the rapists in many cases being known, only a third of the rapists have been arrested with even fewer going to trial.”

Before the Simelela Centre for rape survivors was opened, there was nowhere for people to go and get help or to receive follow-up care. The nearest treatment facility was 20kilometers away, at a neighbouring community’s Thuthuzela Care Centre.

“The Simelela Centre provides a holistic range of services for rape survivors, including a 28-day course of antiretroviral drugs to prevent HIV transmission for those who report to the centre within 72 hours of being raped,” according to health-e.org.za. “Rape survivors are also provided with counselling and antibiotics to prevent sexually transmitted infections”.

“A number of areas are in need of urgent attention, especially poor police investigations, failure to arrest suspects, failure to protect complainants from intimidation, and a harsh court environment. “These factors all put people off from seeking justice and create a climate of impunity that encourages sexual violence.” Therefore, the centre also makes use of the police, the justice system and the department of health’s services. By this method, rape survivors can access all care systems and services under one roof, 24 hours a day, seven days a week and 365 days a year.

Simelela is situated at Site B Day Hospital in Khayelitsha and is run in partnership with Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF), Rape Crisis, the Departments of Health, correctional services and social development, Nonceba (a family-based counselling centre for child rape survivors), SAPS, the National Prosecuting Authority and the Treatment Action Campaign.

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