PROGRESS REPORT:

THE IMPEMENTATION OF THE DOMESTIC VIOLENCE ACT,

1998

PRESENTED TO THE PORTFOLIO AND SELECT COMMITTEE ON WOMEN, CHILDREN AND PEOPLE WITH

DISABILITIES

DATE: 7th MARCH 2012CAPE TOWN

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Presentation Outline

Introduction

The Role of the Department of Health Responses to questions raised by the

Committee Psychosocial Support: Databases Training

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Responses to questions raised by the Committee continued….

Progress to Date

Challenges

Way forward

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Introduction

On 28th November 2011 the Portfolio and Select Committee on Women, Children and People with Disabilities (Committee) as part of its follow-up mechanism on the implementation of the Domestic Violence Act (DVA), requested the Department of Health to respond to specific questions relating to psycho-social support, data-bases and training.

On the 18th January 2012 the Committee requested the department to with reference to its previous request for information, provide a holistic presentation on the progress made regarding the implementation of the DVA.

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Introduction Continued..

● In the light of the above this report seeks to provide a holistic view of the department’s role in the implementation of the DVA in general and to respond to the specific questions raised by the Committee in particular.

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The Role of the Department of Health

South Africa currently faces a quadruple Burden of Disease (BoD) consisting of: HIV and AIDS and TB; High Maternal and Child Mortality; Non-Communicable Diseases and Violence and Injuries.

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The Role of the Department of Health

In 2007, South Africa had only 0.7% of the world’s population, but accounted for 17% (about 5.5 million people)

of the global burden of HIV infections

(The Lancet, August 2009).

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The Role of the Department Cont…

Life expectancy in South Africa is adversely affected by communicable diseases such as: HIV, TB, Malaria, Respiratory Infections and Diarrheal

Diseases; High Maternal and Child Mortality; Increasing levels of non-communicable diseases, which

contributed to 28% of the total burden of disease. Violence and Trauma related injuries

In this context, Domestic Violence falls under Violence and Trauma and is mainly experienced as a form of Gender-Based Violence (GBV).

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The Role of the Department Cont…

Acts of Domestic Violence includes amongst others : Physical abuse (including sexual assault), and in this regard

the Department’s view is that Victims/Survivor’s needs in post-rape and sexual assault care are paramount.

These include: Identification/recognition of sexual abuse in adults & children; care for physical injuries; immediate and longer term psychological support; pregnancy prevention; prevention and treatment of sexually transmitted infections

(STI), hepatitis and tetanus; HIV counseling and prevention; protection from possible

ongoing abuse and assistance with the social impact. 04/18/239

RESPONSES TO QUESTIONS

RAISED BY THE

COMMITTEE

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1. QUESTIONS ON PSYCHOSOCIAL SUPPORT

Is there a recruitment strategy that is established to increase the team of skilled personnel to Domestic Violence?

Has the department identified the recruitment strategy to increase the team of skilled personnel, eg, Bursaries for Psychologists, Occupational Therapists etc?

How many perpetrators of domestic violence have received psychosocial services from the department in the period September 2010 to September 2011?

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RESPONSE

The Department of Health developed the Human Resource for the Health Sector (2012/2013 to 2016/2017) that seeks to, amongst others identify the skills gaps and suggests interventions to address the gaps.

The HR Strategy identifies shortages of health professionals and of note is that the psychologists and Occupational Therapists are not on the list.

This indicates therefore, that the health sector does not have shortages in these fields..

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RESPONSE….

This does not however suggest that the department is no longer recruiting these health professionals as figures show that for the period Sept 2010-Sept 2011, a total of 237 Clinical Psychologists and 489 Occupational Therapists were placed on Community Services

Bursaries are issued by provinces to students pursuing studies in the health field including psychology and Occupational Therapy.

With regards to perpetrators of Domestic Violence the department mainly deals with cases of court referrals for mental observations as well as cases of state patients. The Department of Correctional Services is responsible for perpetrators of domestic violence.

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2.QUESTION OF DATABASE

The public hearings revealed a need for effective databases within and across government departments.

To what extend is the department collaborating with other departments such as the SAPS to ensure that databases are kept up to date, and to ensure that cases are tracked and well documented? – this is specifically relevant in recurring Domestic Violence cases.

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RESPONSE

The Department of Health is a member of the Victims Empowerment Management Team which comprises of: Department of Social Development, South African Police Service, Department of Health, Department of Correctional Service, Department of Basic Education, National Prosecuting Authority and Department of Justice and Constitutional Development.

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RESPONSE ….

The integrated data base for Victims of Crime and Violence sanctioned by the Victim Empowerment Program in the department of Social Development has been piloted in a number of health, police, correctional facilities and Shelters that manage victims of violence.

The objective of the integrated data base is to have one system that is accessible to all departments that manages victims of violence.

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3.QUESTIONS ON TRAINING

In the period September 2010, how many officials were trained in Domestic Violence in Domestic Violence.

What has been done to adequately train officials attending to victims regarding parting information to victims about referrals to safe homes?

To what extend is the department collaborating with other departments such as the SAPS to ensure that databases are kept up to date, and to ensure that cases are tracked and well documented? – this is specifically relevant in recurring Domestic Violence cases.

  

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RESPONSE ON TRAINING

Management of sexual Assault trainings conducted:

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Date Province Number of health officials trained

Sept 2010 Northern Cape 22

Oct 2010 Limpopo 36

Nov 2010 Free State 40

Dec 2010 Kwa-Zulu Natal 46

Feb 2011 Western Cape 10

Mar 2011 Gauteng 30

Aug 2011 Free State 36

Sept 2011 North West 15

RESPONSE ON TRAINING

Integrated training on management of Victims of sexual Assault

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Date Province No trained

August 2011 NW-Klerksdorp 22

Sept 2011 NW- Potchefstroom 37

4.QUESTIONS ON REFERRALS & FOLLOW-UP

What has been done to adequately train officials attending to victims regarding imparting information to victims about referrals to safe homes, and information on follow-up treatment where necessary?

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RESPONSE ON REFERRALS & FOLLOW-UPS

The Department developed a comprehensive curriculum that covers all aspects of management of victim; e.g. Counseling; Medical treatment; Collection of forensic evidence; Follow-ups on PEP Referrals to other service providers

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RESPONSE ON REFERRALS & FOLLOW-UPS ….

The Department conducts reviews to all provinces to monitor and evaluate the progress of the PEP programme

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PEP REVIEWS CONDUCTED

PROVINCE DATE OF REVIEW

Eastern Cape 5-6 September 2011

Free State 8-9 September 2011

Gauteng 19-20 September 2011

Kwa-Zulu Natal 12-13 September 2011

Limpopo 15-16 September 2011

Mpumalanga 22-23 September 2011

Northern Cape 26-27 September 2011

North West 8-9 September 2011

Western Cape 19-20 September 2011

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5. QUESTION TO DEPARTMENT COLLABORATION

To what extent the Department collaborate with other department such as the SAPS to ensure that data bases are kept up to date and to ensure that cases are tracked and documented? This is specifically relevant to recurring domestic violence

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RESPONSE TO COLLABORATIONS

The Department is a member collaborate with the following interdepartmental teams: Victim empowerment Management Team (VEP)

for empowerment of victims of violence and Victims Data base management.

Inter-Departmental Management Team (IDMT) for management of victims of Sexual Assault

Inter Departmental Committee (IDC) for the Victim Rights Charter.

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THANK YOU

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