MyJHB

Stuff from Johannesburg

Another Rape-kit Stock-out

Statement by Angel Khanyile MP – DA Spokesperson on Women, Children and Persons with Disabilities:

The Democratic Alliance (DA) conducted an unannounced oversight visit to the Masakhane Thuthuzela Care Centre (TCC), and revealed that this is another institution out of stock of crucial rape-kits that collect and preserve critical evidence ahead of criminal prosecution.

This comes after the DA has exposed numerous SAPS and other survivor facilities that are out of stock of rape-kits.

The conditions discovered at Masakhane Thuthuzela in Gauteng were of deep concern to me, and extremely unacceptable for a facility meant to be a haven for survivors of gender-based violence.

Upon arrival there was no permanent police presence at the facility; a key requirement of a TCC.

This centre currently operates out of a container-type structure in dire condition.

While we commend the dedicated staff for making do, we found that only two doctors are available on rotation working 24-hour shifts. Two doctors are meant to serve over eleven communities.

This is a centre that should be a safe-haven assisting rape survivors, but we found that it also has to take blood samples from drunk drivers who occupy the same space. Victims of sexual assault are routinely assessed and examined without the necessary examination aprons, meant to provide dignity and privacy.

Every time samples are taken, staff have to telephone the SAPS in the hope they will come to collect what is critical evidence. This is not just inefficient; it jeopardises justice.

The DA will undertake continuous, unannounced oversight across all TCCs in Gauteng to expose the full extent of these problems.

We will then use every parliamentary tool to demand budgets, staffing, and infrastructure that match the crisis our women and children face.

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The Socio-Political Crucible of Soweto

You cannot understand Johannesburg without understanding Soweto (an acronym for South Western Townships). Originally established as a “labor dormitory” to house black miners away from the white city center, Soweto grew into a sprawling metropolis of over 1.3 million people and became the epicenter of the struggle against Apartheid.

The township is home to Vilakazi Street, the only street in the world to have been home to two Nobel Peace Prize winners: Nelson Mandela and Archbishop Desmond Tutu. It was also the site of the 1976 Soweto Uprising, when thousands of students protested against the forced use of Afrikaans in schools. The police response and the subsequent death of 13-year-old Hector Pieterson catalyzed international condemnation of the Apartheid regime. Today, Soweto is a vibrant cultural hub, blending historical landmarks like the Orlando Towers (now used for bungee jumping) with a booming tourism industry and a sophisticated middle class. It represents the city’s resilience—a place born from segregation that transformed into a symbol of liberation and modern South African identity.