Sexual Offences: Victims of rape and other sexual crimes

Services offered by the new model for Sexual Offences Courts:

• Court preparation services: The programmefamiliarises you with court processes, procedures, services and benefits. It aims to help you to be an effective witness in court. On the date of trial, you will be welcomed in court by the Court Preparation Officer (CPO).
• Pre- and post- trial trauma debriefing services: The CPO will take you through trial trauma debriefing sessions before the trial commences and once it is concluded to help you deal with the trauma of the incident.
• Intermediary services: If you are a child victim or a person with mental disability, the prosecutor will apply to court to allow you to testify in a private testifying room with the assistance of an intermediary. The role of the intermediary is to convey questions from court to you in an understandable manner.
• Private testifying room/closed court services: If you are an adult witness, the law allows you to testify from a private testifying room via the closed-circuit TV system if you feel more comfortable to do so. This will ensure that you do not need to be in the physical presence of the accused when testifying.
• Private waiting rooms for adult and child victims: The child witness room has standard furniture specifically designed to meet the needs of traumatised children. It also provides a play area, reading centre, and a child’s bed-sofa for resting. The adult waiting room is also furnished to make the court experience more comfortable for victims. Information services are available at the private waiting rooms for victims, mainly to inform you of your rights and the available court services. The information is offered in the form of educational booklets, DVDs, and in braille.
• Witness fee services: The department provides witness fees to cover your return travelling costs and food while in court.

The Act and Reguslations:

Policies and Documents:

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Audio Books:

• Intermediary Services provided in Courts, 2015 [13:31min, mp3]
  

Reports:

Inter-Departmental Annual Report 2023/2024

Inter-Departmental Annual Report 2021/2022

Departmental Annual Report 2021/2022

Inter-Departmental Annual Report 2020/2021

Inter-Departmental Annual Report 2019/2020

Inter-Departmental Annual Report 2017/2018

Inter-Departmental Annual Report 2015/2016

Inter-Departmental Annual Report 2015/2014

Inter-Departmental Annual Report 2013/2014.

Report on the Re-Establishment of Sexual Offences Courts 2013

Services Information:

• Contact list for all magistrate (lower) courts
• Contact list for NPA Court Preparation Services Sites 2019 (Sexual Offences and Community Affairs (SOCA) Unit)
• SAPS: Family Violence, Child Protection And Sexual Offences Unit (FCS)
• Department of Health Facilities providing Clinical Forensic Medicine Services for all Provinces A National Directory & Reference booklet for Communities, 2011
• Call the Gender-Based Violence Command Centre (GBVCC) for information on shelters and other assistance.
• Khuseleka One Stop Centres (Department of Social Development), 28 Oct 2019
• Thuthuzela Care Centres (TCCs) Sites and Contact Details
• Database (contacts) for Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offences Units & Commanders in Free State Region, 2014

Frequently Asked Questions:

• FAQ on Sexual Offences
  
• FAQ on Sexual Assault
  
• FAQ on Intermediary Services provided in Courts

Support Information:

• Support for victims of sexual offences (16 Days Newspaper Insert), Dec 2015
• Trauma Management Programme: Employee Health and Wellness Interventions, 2014
• Support for Victims of Sexual Offences and information about the Bloemfontein Sexual Offences Court, 2014 [4.16 mb, PDF]
• Moving the wheels of justice towards combating sexual offences, Dec 2011
• Article on the "teenage kissing" and the Act, 2008

FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT
Chief-Directorate: Promotion of the Rights of Vulnerable Groups
Tel: 012 315 1808/1656, E-mail: sorma@justice.gov.za