Access to Justice
Access to Justice
MOSAIC offers survivors of intimate partner violence holistic and integrated support and response services to access legal and psychosocial support in a centralised manner. We offer support services and advise to abused women about practicalities of obtaining protection orders and accessing counselling.
Court Support
Through this service, MOSAIC’s goal is to facilitate people’s rights to safety and security by providing information and support services in domestic violence courts.
Survivors of intimate partner violence and any form of domestic violence often have stay in the abusive relationships for many years, and being cut off from accessing many of their rights. The Domestic Violence Act (DVA) No. 116 of 1998 provides protection to those directly affected by domestic violence but many survivors often do not understand how to access the protection that the legislation provides them once at court.
MOSAIC has trained court support workers who provide support to survivors in understanding the legal procedures and requirements they must undertake in order for the court to grant them the relief they seek. The court support workers are also present to offer emotional support during the process and after. They also refer survivors for further support in accessing healing and empowerment services where needed.
A holistic approach is followed: the support service and therefore the training of court workers are specifically designed to meet the needs of those applying for protection orders and of those presiding over the applications. Court support counsellors focus on alleviating the pressures experienced by court personnel and ensure that magistrates have all the information needed to grant the applications.
MOSAIC serves an average of 20 000 people per annum with protection order applications in and around Cape Town.
MOSAIC’s Domestic Violence Court Suport Model is based on the following cornerstones:
- Decentralised services at Domestic Violence Courts
- Integrated service delivery at courts- co-ordination and collaboration between our Court Support Workers and Clerks
- Alleviating the pressure on Clerks of the court so that they can reinvest their time on administering.
- Skilled and competent court support staff and participative management
The Court Support Programme is therefore aimed at enhancing specific aspects in order to strengthen the domestic violence sections of the courts. Courts that MOSAIC work in are:
| COURT | DAYS | HOURS | TELEPHONE NUMBERS |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bellville | Mon-Wednesday | 8.30-15.30 | 021 950 7700/7712 |
| Bishop Lavis | Mon-Wednesday | 8.30-15.30 | 021 934 1021 |
| Blue Downs | Mon-Wednesday | 8.30-15.30 | 021 909 9000 |
| Cape Town | Mon-Wednesday | 8.30-15.30 | 021 461 1204 |
| Khayelitsha | Mon-Wednesday | 8.30-15.30 | 021 360 1455 |
| Mitchell’s Plain | Mon-Wednesday | 8.30-15.30 | 021 370 4296 |
| Paarl | Mon-Wednesday | 8.30-15.30 | 021 872 3127 |
| Franschoek | Mon-Wednesday | 8.30-15.30 | |
| Philippi | Mon-Wednesday | 8.30-15.30 | 021 372 0901 |
| Wynberg | Mon-Wednesday | 8.30-15.30 | 021 799 1800/1902 |
| Pretoria Magistrates’ Court | Mon-Friday |
Thuthuzela Care Centres
What is a Thuthuzela Care-Centre (TCC)? It is a government run, one-stop centre situated in a hospital where a survivor of rape can access a range of services and care post the traumatic experience without being exposed to secondary victimisation. The TCC is operated under and monitored by the Department of Health. MOSAIC is an NGO that provides services aimed at preventing all forms of abuse and violence against women, providing high quality response services when incidences occur and supporting clients through the process of healing and rebuilding their lives.
Purpose of this co-ordinated response service centre is to:
1. Reduce secondary victimisation
2. Increase conviction rates of perpetrators
