Do You Need Help?
4 Steps to Finding Help

 

You’re not alone…

Over 60 000 women and children are victims of domestic abuse in South Africa. Abuse isn’t always physical violence, it can include emotional and financial abuse. We know how overwhelming things can get and we want you to know that you’re not alone. Below are steps you can take to access help…

 

Step 1: Leaving an Abusive Relationship

 

  • Believe in yourself and your worth.
  • Take charge of your self-image.
  • Don’t let abuse make you lose hope, suicide is not the answer.
  • Plan for your safety and your children’s, including an emergency escape plan (see Step 2 below).

Step 2: Emergency Plan

 

  • Keep shelter and crisis service numbers handy. see list below
  • Save contacts for police, family, doctor, and friends.
  • List four safe places to go if you need to leave.
  • Leave spare keys, money, clothes, and documents with someone you trust.
  • Carry small change for calls and transport.
  • Practice an escape plan with your children and review it weekly.
  • Keep important documents with you.
  • Pack essentials like clothes and personal items.

If you leave your home without any of these things, you can go to the police station and request an escort to stay with you while you get your things from home.

See a list of Emergency Contact Numbers below

Step 3: What to Have Ready

 

Here’s list of goods to pack, if you need to leave quickly (by order of priority):

 

  • Clothes, toiletries, medicine for you and your children.
  • School bags, uniforms, and favorite toys.
  • ID, birth certificates, passports.
  • Marriage/divorce papers, protection order.
  • Kids’ school and medical records.
  • Car and house keys, ownership/rental papers.
  • Important contacts and office keys.
  • Bank, insurance, and unpaid account details.
  • His bank, salary, and policy details.
  • Sentimental items (photos, jewelry, etc.).

Step 4: Secure Your Home

 

If your partner has left and you’re staying in the family home:

 

  • Change door locks.
  • Reinforce doors.
  • Consider a security service.
  • Install an alarm system.
  • Add outdoor lighting.
  • Inform trusted neighbors to call the police if they see the perpetrator nearby.

Emergency Contact Numbers

 

WESTERN CAPE

Government Departments

Victim Empowerment Programme (021) 401 1511
Department of Social Development: Mitchell‟s Plain (021) 370 4800
Department of Social Development: Gugulethu (021) 638 5151
Social Security Agency (021) 469 0200

NGOs offering counselling, care and support

Rape Crisis Cape Town (021) 361 9085
Ascot House, Tel: (021) 797-4190
Beitun Nur, Tel: (021) 73-9314
Care Haven, Tel: (021) 45-4846 / 461-4106
Ilitha Labanthu Gugulethu (021) 633-2383
Ilitha Labanthu Khayelitsha (021) 361 9731
Ilitha Labanthu Phillippi Satellite Branch (021) 372 0901
Ilitha Labanthu Langa Satellite Branch (083) 471 6240
Mosaic Training, Service and Healing Centre for Women (021) 761 7585
Kulis River Support Group (021) 903 4262
Women‟s Legal Centre (021) 421 1380
Commission on Gender Equality (021) 426 4080/3
Trauma Centre for Survivors of Violence and Torture (021) 465 7373
Love in Action (021) 391 1925
Western Cape Anti-crime Forum (021) 699 0913
Thuthuzela Rape Care Centre (021) 690 1011
Mitchell‟s Plain Crisis Centre (021) 392 2000
Dirkie Uys Community Health Centre (021) 590 1644
Rape Crisis George (044) 802 4534
FAMSA George (044) 874 5811
FAMSA Knysna (044) 382 5129
Rape Crisis Stellenbosch (021) 887 1844