Rape victims left in lurch

The government's underestimation of the seriousness of the rape crisis and the misallocation of desperately needed funds are denying rape and domestic violence survivors of essential support.

The allocation of less than 1% of the Social Development Department's budget to welfare services is leading to children's rights and women's NGOs being unable to respond to desperate appeals for their help.

So severe is the crisis that parliament's social development portfolio committee has called for public hearings on how to correct the situation.

Committee chairman Zoleka Capa admitted last week that the department was "inconsistent" in service delivery.

Capa spoke at a briefing by Shukumisa - a national coalition of 45 civil society bodies that deal with sexual offences law and government policy.

Shukumisa's analysis of the department's budget shows that only 0.4% goes to welfare services, a situation worsened by the duplication of resources.

Nombulelo Mambombo, Lifeline's director, said the organisation's ability to "empower women" was hampered by lack of funding.

NGOs such as the Greater Rape Intervention Project (GRIP) have been forced to close their counselling rooms at police stations and hospitals because of the funds shortage.

GRIP CEO Barbara Kenyon said counselling of victims was needed both before and after medical examinations in sexual violence cases - the medical examination often left women feeling "like they had been raped again".

Cape Town's Rape Crisis Centre, after a major financial crisis, had to retrench most of its staff in 2012 and has become increasingly dependent on sponsors.

"Because of the economic climate many NGOs have had to close.

"It's staggering how poor the resources are.

"The government underestimates the severity of rape," said Sarah Strydom, the Rape Crisis Centre's spokesman.

"There is a lack of political will to put funding on top of the agenda. There is often just lip service."

Lisa Vetten, a researcher at the Wits Institute for Social and Economic Research, told the portfolio committee that lack of funding was of "deep concern" to organisations now unable to provide adequate services to the victims of sexual violence.

Capa said the government had to set spending targets with "affordability" in mind.