Useful Documents and Links

Mosaic's Useful Documents: this page contains copies of Mosaic’s publications that were created over the years, which can also be looked at under the relevant service areas / programmes that Mosaic provides.

• Annual Reports
  • 2008-2009
  • 2007-2008
  • 2005-2006
• Pamphlets & Informational Brochures
  • IPAS with General Information on Domestic Violence & Sexual Health Rights
  • It’s an order! A simple guide to your rights (English version)
    • Xhosa version
    • Afrikaans version
  • Your Guide to Sexual and Reproductive Health (English version)
    • Part 1
    • Part 2
  • Women’s Booklet: Women Won't Wait - Empowering Survivors of Domestic and Gender-Based Violence (English version)
    • Xhosa version
    • Afrikaans version
• Additional Information & Research
  • Maptuo Plan of Action for the Operationalisation of the Continental Policy Framework for Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights 2007-2010
  • Republic of South Africa: Criminal Law (Sexual Offences and Related Matters) Amendment Act (coming)
  • UN Declaration of Commitment on HIV/AIDS
  • Research on the attrition of Domestic Violence Cases – Preminary Findings (2006)

Phone Numbers and Links:

• Abuse Helpline 0800 150 150
• Rape Crisis 24hr Line 021 447 9762
• Simelela Rape Centre, Khayelitsha 021 361 0543
• Lifeline 0800 05 55 55
• Flying Squad SAPS 1 0111
• Emergency Contraception Hotline 0800 24 64 32 WC
• Network on Violence Against Women 021 633 5287
• Thuthuzela Rape Centre 021 690 1103
• Human Trafficking Hotline 0800 55 59 99
• South African Police Service (SAPS)
• The South African Constitution
• FAMSA
• Sonke - Gender Justice Network
• Family Violence Prevention Fund
• Women’s Legal Centre

Research on the attrition of Domestic Violence Cases – Preminary Findings (2006)

Medico-legal research has found that 4 women are murdered everyday by their intimate partners in South Africa and that at least a third of these women sought assistance from the criminal justice system. Previous research on the implementation of the Domestic Violence Act, Act 116 of 1998 also shows that there are critical attrition points in the criminal justice system where cases of domestic violence simply “fall out”. Despite domestic violence legislation being accessible and progressive in its ambit, implementation continues to be a problem at specific points in the court and policing processes.

Medico-legal research has found that 4 women are murdered everyday by their intimate partners in South Africa and that at least a third of these women sought assistance from the criminal justice system. Previous research on the implementation of the Domestic Violence Act, Act 116 of 1998 also shows that there are critical attrition points in the criminal justice system where cases of domestic violence simply “fall out”. Despite domestic violence legislation being accessible and progressive in its ambit, implementation continues to be a problem at specific points in the court and policing processes.

Research conducted by Mosaic and the Gender, Health and Justice Research Unit of UCT in 2007 builds on 5 years of monitoring research conducted by the Dr Lilly Artz and explores the relatively unchartered terrain of ‘case attrition’ in domestic violence cases. It draws heavily on the expertise and contributions of MOSAIC which sees some 25 000 cases of domestic violence each year. The research partnership was established in 2005 and continues to build on this preliminary, exploratory research in an effort to improve service provision to victims of domestic violence.

Despite previous research and monitoring projects on the DVA, there is no single South African study investigating the reasons for the high levels of attrition in domestic violence cases. The high level of attrition in domestic violence cases is what criminal justice personnel and the judiciary consider to be one of the most critical issues frustrating efforts by the criminal justice system to appropriately intervene in domestic violence matters. We have therefore undertaken to investigate these points of attrition in an attempt to develop substantive, procedural and contextual analysis and recommendations for improving the implementation of the Act. Click here to download a Bulletin with preliminary research findings. As a result of these findings, additional research was conducted in four domestic violence courts during 2008. The final results of this results will be published towards the end of 2009.