Welcome to PATCH / Helderberg Child Abuse Centre |
PATCH / Helderberg Child Abuse Centre aims to support all child victims of sexual abuse in the Helderberg area of Cape Town, South Africa and strives to prevent the incidence of this horrific crime committed against innocent children.
We believe that every child victim of sexual abuse is entitled to immediate crisis intervention, free professional therapy in his/her home language at a PATCH facility close to the child victim’s home, and preparation for the court case, should their case go to court.
Who we are
PATCH / Helderberg Child Abuse Centre was established in 1992 as a non-profit organisation and is directed by voluntary community members serving as a Board of Directors. Due to the high incidence of child sexual abuse, it was decided to change the focus of the organisation in 2000 to specialise in addressing this scourge. At this time, Child Welfare was established in the Helderberg and incorporated all other abuse-related cases, leaving PATCH to deal exclusively in child sexual abuse cases.
PATCH has three offices in the Helderberg Basin, forming part of the Cape Metropole, where assessments and therapy is offered to child victims of sexual abuse, residing in the entire Helderberg area. This is done by qualified social workers and counsellors who reside in the community served by PATCH.
PATCH also has a 24-hour crisis centre at the local Government hospital, where children are supported by means of the hospital’s medico-legal examination team in cases of rape.
PATCH have staff members who conduct essential awareness and prevention programmes at schools in the Helderberg. The focus of these programmes is to encourage children to come forward and report any incidents of sexual abuse.
PATCH aims to support all child victims of sexual abuse in the Helderberg and strives to prevent incidences of this despicable crime.
PATCH takes pride in the fact that, with the increased accessibility of their services, the divergent communities have come to trust PATCH and embrace the help being offered.
What is child sexual abuse? |
“Basically, sexual abuse includes any touching by an adult of a child’s body when the adult’s purpose or motive for touching is to arouse or gratify the adult’s sexual desire. To put it in other words, sexual abuse is touching for sexual purpose. Obvious examples of sexual abuse include sexual intercourse, kissing a little girl’s genitals, sucking a boy’s penis, and forcing a child to suck a man’s penis (this applies to both genders).
Not all sexual abuse involves a child’s genitals, buttocks or breasts. Kissing on the mouth or other body parts is abusive if the adult’s motive is sexual. Moreover, touching through a child’s clothing can be as abusive as touching bare skin. Thus it can be sexual abuse to touch a little girl’s breast through her blouse or the little boy’s penis through his pants.
In summary, any touching, anywhere on the child’s body is abuse when the adult’s motive is sexual. Additionally abuse occurs when a child touches an adult’s body in response to the adult’s request if the adult’s motive is sexual gratification.
Sexual touching is not the only kind of child sexual abuse. It’s abuse to expose a child to pornography or to use a child in the production of pornography. Thus, it is abuse to take indecent photographs or videos of children. An adult commits abuse when he persuades two children to engage in sex with each other. Abuse occurs when an adult masturbates knowing a child is watching. The exhibitionist lurking next to the schoolyard and the peeping Tom at the bedroom window are child abusers.”
Sexual abuse described by Meyers (in Aucamp, 2007:8)
PATCH - Helderberg Child Abuse Centre
24 Hour Crisis Service |
Our Task |
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PATCH / Helderberg Child Abuse Centre renders a 24 hour crisis service to child victims of sexual abuse. Dedicated voluntary crisis workers offer emotional support after a child has disclosed their case of abuse and laid a charge with the police. Crisis workers are on call every evening, during weekends as well as on public holidays (when most referrals are usually received) |
The role of the crisis worker is to accompany the child to the hospital and offer emotional support during the medico-legal examination, while the doctor collects forensic evidence for the court case. Crisis workers will give the child a comfort toy (teddy bear) to put them at ease. After the examination, the child may take a bath and get a clean set of clothes, underwear and toiletries. The doctor will also prescribe Post-Exposure Prophylaxis treatment to reduce the chance of contracting HIV, pregnancy and Sexually Transmitted diseases if the incident took place within the 72hr window period. |
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Training for Crisis Workers include |
What to do when you have been abused |
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A paediatric Sexual Assault Kit |
Comfort Packs given to child victims of sexual abuse |
The Medical Examination room at the PATCH Somerset West office |
PATCH - Helderberg Child Abuse Centre
Treatment of the child survivor
Forensic Investigation into Allegations of Sexual Abuse |
Due to the seriousness of allegations of sexual abuse as well as the possible legal implications, investigating allegations or suspicions of sexual abuse is a very complex and sensitive issue.
In the case of allegations of sexual abuse we follow an investigation process that is both supported by literature and research, but also one that is objective and legally sound. Our role within this process is one of objective fact-finders. We work from the assumption that there are various possible explanations for the child’s behaviour and/or disclosure and that all possible hypothesis should be tested.
We would like to take some time to explain to you what our forensic assessment process, regarding allegations of sexual abuse, entails.
Socio-emotional assessment |
Forensic |
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As part of PATCH’s protocol, all investigations into possible sexual abuse start with a socio-emotional assessment of the child concerned. The socio-emotional assessment of the child involves a holistic screening of all the areas of functioning and systems that the child is involved in. The socio-emotional assessment of the child is used to:
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After completion of the socio-economic assessment of the child, an appointment for a forensic interview will be scheduled. Depending on the age of the child and their process of disclosure, anything from 1-6 forensic interviews can be scheduled. Forensic interviews can range from 1 hour to 1½ hours per interview. Please take note that no feedback will be provided to parents in between the various forensic interviews. Although this is frustrating to parents, it is necessary that our investigation process minimizes the possibility of intentional and/or unintentional contamination of the child’s information. |
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As a part of a legally sound investigation process, the socio-emotional assessment is seen as the first phase of an investigation process, and it precedes the forensic interviewing of the child. During the assessment the parent(s) or guardian of the child will be asked to complete two questionnaires regarding the child:
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Collateral Interviews |
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Interviews will be held with the parents of the child as well as with other relevant sources that may have information. This is part of a thorough investigation. |
Therapy |
Therapy includes treatment of the child survivor. Therapy may be individual or group based. Young children are seen in specially equipped playrooms. The professional therapists at PATCH make use of a wide range of therapies from narrative and play therapy to cognitive-behavioural therapy. They work according to the individual child’s need whether it is a need to work on feelings of guilt and shame and/or court preparation should the child’s case go to court. The therapy provided ensures that the child’s sense of control over his/her life as well as their self esteem is restored. This professional intervention is successful in the sense that it allows the child to deal with the trauma of having been raped or sexually abused.
Therapy can take up to 12 months depending on the individual case. Therapy is provided by qualified social workers and psychological counsellors based at our centres throughout the Helderberg.
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Children during a therapy session |
The PATCH Strand Office |
The sensory room at the PATCH Strand office |
PATCH - Helderberg Child Abuse Centre
Court Preparation |
Appearing in a criminal court is a very frightening experience for an adult, even more so for a young child. However, without their vital evidence child abusers will not face prosecution.
Unprepared, counsel for defence may easily undermine and confuse the child or parent in such a way that he or she is not believed and the abuser gets away with the crime.
About PATCH’s Court Preparation
Time spent in preparing a witness for the reality of the courtroom and cross-examination, and helping them to tell their story, is time well spent. Even if sentences are ridiculously light, as is often the case, the victim feels empowered by being able to give testimony and be believed.
Due to the fact that children experience difficulties when testifying in court, certain concessions have been made for them. A special child friendly courtroom is linked to the court by closed-circuit camera, giving the child the chance to testify without having to face the alleged perpetrator.
Court preparation sessions are offered in the following ways: Individual sessions for witnesses, group sessions for witnesses and sessions for parents. The child and parent visit the court before the court case and get familiar with the court environment.
Children should feel safe and protected in the courtroom. The court supporter can put the child at ease on the day of the court case. On the day of the court case the child can relax and play until called to give evidence in court. We offer the children a snack and keep them stimulated with videos, music and play while they wait their turn. Cases are sometimes remanded several times before the child finally testifies. We want to make this experience the least stressful for the children.
Objectives |
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Expected Results |
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Activities |
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PATCH - Helderberg Child Abuse Centre
PATCH Prevention |
PATCH Prevention and Awareness programmes are used to educate the youth and parents of the Helderberg.
Parents are helped to understand the effects of sexual abuse on a child and different ways of dealing with the resulting trauma. Parents are encouraged to report abuse and support their children through the lengthy process following an incident of sexual abuse.
Prevention programmes
Prevention programmes entail information about my body, that I am special and have the right to say no. Children are taught about good and bad touch, good and bad secrets and what to do if sexual abuse occurs. Children are told about the process following disclosure, who they can tell and where to go for help.
Depending on the age of the children the programme will be adapted to include age appropriate information with regards to specific problems children of that age might encounter.
On average the prevention workers reach about 7000 or more children per year in the Helderberg area of Cape Town.
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Halli Trust awareness talk on sexual abuse |
A body chart teaching young children the “private parts” of their bodies |
Patricia Thakholi, a Social Auxiliary worker at PATCH, providing a prevention program to a local school |
PATCH - Helderberg Child Abuse Centre
Wish List |
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PATCH - Helderberg Child Abuse Centre
Physical Address: Cnr Dummer & Dorhill Streets
Somerset West
Postal Address: PO Box 2454
Somerset West
Postal Code: 7130
Telephone: +27(0)218526110
Fax: +27(0)218527599
Email: ada@preciouspatch.co.za
Directions: ..
Latitude: -34.074861
Longitude: 18.845619
Our Offices |
Strand/Rusthof /Gordon’s Bay |
Macassar |
Sir Lowry’s Pass |
Lwandle |
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8 Broadlands Road Tel: 021 8457548 |
Macassar Police Station Tel: 021 8574 820 |
Sir Lowry’s Pass Police Centre Main Road Sir Lowry’s Pass |
Plans are currently being finalized and details on the new location to be provided soon. |
Our Staff |
Click on the staff member you would like to send an email to.
ada@preciouspatch.co.za
mandy@preciouspatch.co.za
rejaun@preciouspatch.co.za
yulin@preciouspatch.co.za
patricia@preciouspatch.co.za
amy@preciouspatch.co.za
ruth@preciouspatch.co.za
marilyn@preciouspatch.co.za
robin@preciouspatch.co.za
alison@preciouspatch.co.za
susan@preciouspatch.co.za
kim@preciouspatch.co.za
cambell@preciouspatch.co.za
PATCH / Helderberg Child Abuse Centre – Board of Directors |
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Name |
Portfolio |
Position |
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Mr. Mervyn Traut |
Chairman |
Chairman |
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Dr. Jeremy Dyssell |
24hr Crisis Service/Hospital relations |
Medical |
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Mr. Mark Gibbs |
Prevention Programmes |
Treasurer |
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Ms. Ada Buys (Co-opted member) |
Daily Management of Services |
Secretary |
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Mrs. Doreen Wright |
General |
Educational |
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Mr. Reagan Adams |
Client Relation Manager |
Operational |
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Should you wish to become a board member, kindly contact Ms. Ada Buys at the PATCH Somerset West Office on 021 852 6110 or via email to ada@preciouspatch.co.za
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