Victim Empowerment

Location/s:            Sabie and Graskop, Mpumalanga
Coordinator/s:       Ntombifuthi Ngwenya – Victim support coordinator

Victim empowerment 2 Victim empowerment 1
Sabie Victim support volunteers in front of the Victim support centre in Sabie Victim support centre in Graskop at the SAPS station

Brief Description

Our Victim empowerment programme consists of Victim support centres and volunteers counsellors in our designated service areas of Sabie and Graskop.

The centres operate in collaboration with SAPS to create a 24 hour Victim Support Centre that provide a counselling and follow up service for survivors of violence and abuse. This includes:

  • Intake of victims with proper procedures and paperwork
  • Referral to appropriate service providers e.g. hospital or social workers
  • Monitoring the police case and providing feedback to the victim and family as well as doing court preparation
  • Conducting home visits to ensure that the victim is safe at home and providing support to the family
  • Short term overnight shelter for women and children survivors of violence and abuse
  • Training and awareness events for members of the community, schools, our volunteers and SAPS
These activities are currently being developed in Phumlani, White River. A weekly feeding scheme is up and running already, feeding 150 vulnerable children once a week through donations from local businesses.

Objectives

  • To render a 24-hour trauma counselling service to all victims of trauma and abuse in Sabie and Graskop
  • To create a safe and friendly environment where victims can be received
  • To assist SAPS in the collection of information required in their investigation
  • To make the necessary referrals to social workers and psychologists or other services where needed
  • To follow up and provide the victim with feedback about his/her case progress through scheduled home visits

Successes:

  • Sensitisation of the police officers to handle cases and empowerment of the victims
  • New Victim support building in Sabie sponsored by Komatiland and completed in November 2009
  • Since 2010 more than 80 rape and more than 220 domestic violence cases were assisted
  • Over 500 learners were reached through awareness campaigns at five local schools

Wish List:

Furniture for the new Victim Support Centre in Sabie
  • Microwave
  • Fridge (small bar fridge)
  • TV cabinet
  • Toys, puzzles, colouring books and colouring pencils
  • Computer and printer with stand
  • Large filing cabinet
  • DVD player
Additional items required by our centres:
  • Rape care packs (1x panty, 1x pads, 1x soap, toothbrush, facecloth, toothpaste)
  • Teddy bears
  • Dolls for court preparation i.e. social worker, magistrate, police officer & nurse