Everything you need to know about support throughout the Court process
In South Africa most sexual offences cases are dealt with at sexual offences courts (SOCs). These courts provide specialised services that are sensitive to the needs of rape survivors and witnesses.
Confronting trauma is fear-inducing enough, but doing so in a foreign environment with strangers who will determine whether or not
you receive justice is one of the main reasons why survivors do not complete the legal process.
For this reason, Rape Crisis fought long and hard to ensure that court support was included as a required service at sexual offences courts. Now, any survivor entering an SOC should have access to these services, and therefore be supported through every step of the court process - from beginning to end.