The President of the South African Forensic Nursing Association (Safna), Priscilla Monyobo, tells OFM News a consequence of this, is that there is no clear post level for forensic nurses, despite the fact that this is a nursing speciality that requires additional training.

She explains the country’s over 400 forensic nurses are the key responders in the health sector to victims of crime and violence. From a legal perspective, they collect forensic evidence that can be used to strengthen cases against perpetrators. Monyobo admits the lack of clarity affects remuneration to some extent when probed, but stresses instead that the nurses “remain passionate and are aware that they are a key resource” in the ongoing battle against gender-based violence.

“Most of the Thuthuzela Care Centres are forensic-nurse driven,” argues Monyobo. These centres, which are the brainchild of the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA), were established in 2006 and have been defined by government as “one-stop facilities that have been introduced as a critical part of South Africa's anti-rape strategy, aiming to reduce secondary victimisation and to build a case ready for successful prosecution”.  

The Safna President is of the view that forensic nurses must be placed at the centre of the implementation of the government’s National Strategic Plan on Gender-based Violence and Femicide.

The scourge of violence against women and children in the country gained momentum following the revelation that University of Cape Town (UCT) student Uyinene “Nene” Mrwetyana was, in fact, raped and murdered at the Clareinch Post Office, the day she was last seen and reported missing in late August 2019. Reports indicate that the 42-year-old male accused and post office employee who confessed to the crime, lured Mrwetyana, a 19-year old first-year film and media student, back to the Post Office after his fellow employees had left the office. Word of her brutal murder and of several others prompted the #AmINext movement.

In late October 2019, Safna held its annual conference on Naval Hill in Bloemfontein in an effort to solve the profession’s ongoing concerns. The event was held nearly a month before the 16 days of activism against Gender-based Violence begin in late November 2019.

OFM News