Do you need help?

EMERGENCY AND REFERRAL CONTACT NUMBERS – Jan 2025

WHO TO CONTACT:

  • IN AN EMERGENCY If you need immediate help for a physically or sexually abused child or woman, please contact :
    • The Police: Emergency number: 112 or Crime Stop: 08600 10111
    • Netcare: 082 911 – There are social workers on staff at Netcare hospitals.
    • Ambulance service: 10177
  • If you are aware of a child being abused, contact your nearest police station and/or one of the following:
    • CHILDLINE: 24/7 Helpline 116   

or https://www.childlinesa.org.za/contact-us/   (Childline can help with other contact numbers in your area)

  • CHILD WELFARE SOUTH AFRICA: Report neglect or abuse of a child, call: 08614 24453 / 087 822 1516 or 011 452-4110 (National Office)
    • SAPS FCS – Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offences Unit: 012 393 2363 (PTA Head Office)  Child abuse reports: childprotect@saps.gov.za
    •  
    • Your nearest Dept of Social Development Office:

DEPT SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT        http://www.dsd.gov.za

REGION                   PHONE

Gauteng                   (011) 355 7687/7977/7878

Limpopo                  (015) 293 6004/ 6054/6011/6053

North West               (018) 387 3434/0255/3497/0281

Mpumalanga             (013) 766 3098/3253/3031

Free State                (051) 400 0302 / 0304/0307

Eastern Cape             043 605 5000

Kwazulu-Natal           (033) 264 5400

Western Cape            (021) 483 3858/3765/3158/5445

Northern Cape           (053) 807 5600

  • If a woman is being abused, please contact:
    • GENDER VIOLENCE HELPLINE: 0800 150 150 or 0800 428 428
    • POLICE Emergency number: 112 or Crime Stop: 08600 10111
    • Dept Social Development GBV  Toll Free: 0800 428 428    Please Call Me:  *120*7867# Sms: 31531

OTHER USEFUL CONTACTS:

Email: info@childwelfaresagauteng.co.za

Contacts
  • CHILD WELFARE TSHWANE:  Risk Assessment / Intakes  0861 298 298

Head Office  012 460 9236

  • CENTRAL GAUTENG MENTAL HEALTH SOCIETY: 011 614 9890 or www.witsmhs.co.za
  • CUSTODY ISSUES – Family Advocate: 012 323 0760 (Gauteng) or 021 426 1216 (Western Cape) or 031 310 6500 (KZN)
  • DRUGWISE: 011 728 6668
  • ELIM CLINIC – Drug Abuse Treatment Centre: 011 975 2951 or www.elimclin.co.za
  • EMTHONJENI CENTRE at WITS: 011 717 4513 – SOCIAL WORK SERVICES : Crisis Intervention, Personal growth and development, Couples and family centred counselling, Support and Self- help groups, Life skills, Parenting (STEP programme), Grief work, HIV/AIDS, Trauma, Conflict resolution.

For more information or to make an appointment contact: Ms Paballo Lepota
Tel: +27 (0)11 717 4513  Email: paballo.lepota@wits.ac.zahttps://www.wits.ac.za/shcd/emthonjeni-centre/

  • FAMSA – The Familiy and Marriage Association of South Africa: 011 788 4784/5 or 011 788 4737 / 4739 or 011 975-7106/7 (National Office) or www.famsa.org.za
  • KHULISA Victim Support Services:  Phone: (011) 788 8237  Email: info@khulisa.org.za
  • LEGAL AID: Toll-free Advice Line: 0800 110 110    Send a Please Call Me – a qualified Legal Advisor will call you back   079 835 7179
  • LIFELINE – Trauma and other  Counselling: 0861 322 322 or
    011 728 1347 Johannesburg Crisis Line / 011 988 0155/6 Soweto Crisis Line / 011 443 3555 Alexandra Crisis Line
  • MatrixMen – For Male Survivors of Child Abuse  Tel: 010 900 3048 Email: martin@matrixmen.org
  • NARCOTICS ANONYMOUS: 083 900 69 62 or www.na.org.za
  • PARTNERS ON PANORAMA – Families in Crisis
  • 93 Panorama Road, Rooihuiskraal, Centurion   Tel: 012 661 4227  
    Email: admin@partnerson.co.za   Office Hours: Mon-Fri 8am – 4pm
  • Parental Co-ordination
    • Family & Divorce Mediation
    • Child-supervised Contact
    • Child Participation
    • Assessment Services
    • Therapeutic Services
  • RAPE CRISIS CAPE – Counselling: 021 447-9762 (Observatory) or 021 633 9229 (Athlone) or 021 361 9085 (Khayalitsha) or www.rapecrisis.org.za
  • SADAG – The South African Depression and Anxiety Group: 011 262 6396 or www.sadag.org
  • SADAG – Suicide Crisis Line: 0800 567 567 or SMS: 31393
  • SADAG – Mental Health Helpline: 0800 20 50 26  Verified
  • Social Development Substance Abuse Line: 0800 12 13 14 or SMS: 32312
  • TEARS Foundation – 24 hr Helpline: 0800 083 277  Support Locator: *134*7355#
    FREE Crisis Intervention, counselling services for those impacted by domestic violence, sexual assault and child sexual abuse. Confidential Services are provided to all victims and survivors Tel: 010 590 5920 / 082 448 9324  Email: info@tears.co.za
  • THUTHUZELA CARE CENTRES:  One-stop facilities based at hospitals and clinics across the country. It is aimed at minimising secondary victimisation of the victims entering the system, expediting finalisation of cases, and improving the conviction rate.

Click on the link on this page, for a list of centres Country-wide https://www.npa.gov.za/thuthuzela-care-centres

WHAT TO DO IF YOU HAVE BEEN RAPED

Whether it be rape, sexual assault, violence or abuse it is an act that is carried out without your consent! If you did not agree to it!

It is a crime!

First Response

Your goal is to stay alive and get to a safe place as soon as possible!

Contact A Friend Or Family Member

The first person you tell about the rape is called the “first witness”. This person may need to make a statement to the police about your condition and, if possible, should accompany you to the hospital or police station.

Should I Report My Attack To The Police?

While there’s no way to change what happened, you can seek justice while helping to stop it from happening to someone else. Reporting to the police is the key to preventing sexual assault: Every time we lock up a rapist, we are preventing him/ her from committing another attack. It’s the most effective tool that exists to prevent future r apes. In the end, though, whether or not to report is your decision to make.

According to the Harassment Act and the Children’s Act, reporting of sexual abuse of individuals 16 and younger is mandatory for adults. We hope you decide to report your attack. There are many good reasons to report, and some victims say that reporting the sexual abuse helped their recovery and helped them regain a sense of control. Nobody should face a traumatic event like sexual abuse alone. You need to get support! Don’t ignore your feelings! Your life may depend on it!

Dealing With The Police:

Initially, only a brief statement is required from you. Make sure you read over the statement before signing it. You can provide a more detailed statement later. Ask for a copy of your statement. If you fear retribution or intimidation from the rapist/s, make sure the police are aware of this and ask that the rapist not be allowed out on bail, or apply for a protection order.

At The Police Station You Have The Right To:

  • Make your statement in a private room
  • Make your statement to a female officer (if there is one)
  • Make your statement in your own language
  • Have a friend or family member with you for support

Ask for a copy of your statement (you are entitled to by law), write down the name of the investigating officer, case number and the phone number for the police station so you can call to check progress of your case.

Remember, you are not alone!   https://tears.co.za/resources/

  • TEARS Foundation – Tel: 010 590 5920 / 082 448 9324  Email: info@tears.co.za