The family of a male victim who was allegedly repeatedly raped at the Durban and Coastal Mental Health Society in Sherwood in 2019 is calling for justice.
The family contacted SABC News recently after hearing a story about the poor living conditions and a lack of adequate food at the same facility. The victim’s sister says her brother has never been the same since the alleged rape and that it has also taken a toll on the family.
For the purposes of anonymity, this story will refer to the victim as Thabo.
In 2018, SABC News reported on allegations of the repeated rape of a male resident by a fellow male resident at the Durban and Coastal Mental Health Society’s Sherwood branch. At the time, then-provincial Health MEC Sibongiseni Dhlomo called for an investigation into these claims. While the family laid a charge with police, investigations revealed that the victim and the alleged perpetrator would not be able to provide police with the necessary information due to their mental challenges.
Now, two years later and following a recent SABC News story – again around concerns at the same facility – the family has come forward to say, they want government to place 38-year-old Thabo in another mental healthcare facility that can adequately and safely care for him.
Durban mental health home rocked by allegations of sexual abuse:
Patient and family permanently affected
At home, Thabo is at ease. Sitting outside, he is able to respond to his sister’s questions, although haphazardly. She says the alleged rapes have left him with long-term physical challenges too. He battles with incontinence. Following the latest alleged incident in 2019, the family brought Thabo home. However, his sister says caring for him while trying to keep a job is taking its toll.
“What I want is that government find a suitable facility for my brother where he will be properly cared for since he has been repeatedly abused at the facility they are funding, he needs a safer facility since his life has been messed up. He is no longer the same before he went to the Durban Mental Health facility, I for one have been through a lot fighting for his justice. I also want that facility to be closed if they fail to seriously take care of the patients placed under their care,” says Thabo’s sister.
She also reflects on the journey of trying to find justice for Thabo and does not want others to suffer similarly.
“Government needs to change the laws in courts dealing with rape victims and people who are mentally challenged, people who have been raped they end up being more depressed, when their cases are not being fast-tracked, sometimes the questions asked in courts sometimes are inhumane it is secondary trauma. Government needs to have courts that are friendlier to people with disabilities, we need to respect people who are living with disabilities, they are human too. In my brother’s case I don’t think we will ever get justice since he is mentally challenged,” says Thabo’s sister.
Problems at the facility
Earlier this month, SABC News reported on the ongoing challenges at the centre.
A visit revealed a dirty kitchen, stale food and inadequate living conditions. KwaZulu-Natal Social Development MEC Nonhlanhla Khoza, who met with the facility’s board also admitted that she was appalled by the situation.
New board Chair Sthandiwe Mkhize says following the alleged rape of Thabo, they beefed up security at the facility as a whole. The alleged perpetrator remains a resident there and additional measures have been taken to monitor him.
“The alleged perpetrator is a resident of this place from since the 70s, so it is one service user that has every now and then was accused of alleged rapes but we are dealing with mentally challenged members of the community. Now it is beyond our control in as far as the law is concerned it has taken the court’s processes even when the matter was dealt with they cannot be detained, we have to keep them here. There have been efforts, now he has been isolated not at the isolation room, but he has his own room. We got our security guards here all over he is always monitored,” says Mkhize.
Mkhize says the facility will continue working to address the ongoing challenges.
Allegations of sexual abuse of mental patients in Durban:
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