The Thohoyandou Victim
Empowerment Program (TVEP) is one of the important South African programs HFL
supports. WHY? Because their mission and objectives are crucial: “To generate an attitude of Zero Tolerance towards Sexual Assault,
Domestic Violence, Child Abuse & HIV and AIDS related stigma in
Limpopo”…and….”…to hold Government accountable for delivery of statutory
services”. We, at HFL, have never
understood why the SA Government has not embraced TVEP as an important ally in
providing critical statutory services to the people of the Thulamela
Municipality. TVEP ‘s ongoing services and long range strategic plan include
maintaining domestic violence and sexual abuse trauma centers; safe houses for
abuse victims; advocacy support through Access to Justice programs; community
mobilization groups; rural clinic-based HELP desks; zero tolerance village
alliances; HIV prevention and support services; counseling and a myriad of
related services and interventions…. services and interventions that a country
such as South Africa, with one of the most progressive constitutions and
comprehensive policies should be proud to subsidize. Despite significant
available Government resources, minimal funding is promised to TVEP and often, pledged
money never trickles down to TVEP’s coffers.
Accountability in some government departments is negligible, implementation
of services is woefully lacking and vital TVEP services (and ultimately the people)
suffer.
Obviously
the current welfare system is not working efficiently and if it were not for
TVEP, working as an understaffed and underfunded safety net, the 150 plus per
month domestically and sexually abused women and children would find no refuge.
GOOD
NEWS! The Provincial Manager of DSD and the Provincial Head of NPO funding
recently surprised TVEP with a fact-finding visit. Within 2 weeks of this
all-important visit, TVEP was approved for R430,000 ($51,000 USD) additional to
the R167,000 ($20,000) that had previously been granted. This was desperately
needed financial support!
“Thank
you.” also to the District Level Head of DSD who has given much encouragement
to TVEP. TVEP morale would be at an all-time low if not for the recognition
that TVEP staffers are doing incredibly important work and HFL adds: “under
insurmountable circumstances!”
Hopefully,
TVEP’s Government allies will have some influence over the Head of Health who
has determined that TVEP deserves “no funding since they don’t provide health
services”. This, despite the fact that TVEP has provided for 5000+ rape victims
to date, HIV testing and support as well as scores of other health related
services. All HFL supporters should be outraged at this shameful disclaimer of
responsibility. If this lack of support
strikes you as being inequitable and unmeritable, please direct your questions as
to “why the Government is not being held accountable for delivery of statutory
services” to Michael Cashman, member of the European Parliament who currently Chairs the Delegation for relations with South Africa, michael.cashman@europarl.europa.eu.
Please
help us spread the word about Limpopo by sharing this with your friends,
family, and colleagues. The people of Limpopo need our help and by simply
sharing this, we can change their lives for the better. “SharingIsCaring”
