New vehicle to help iThemba in advancing the fight against GBV
The vehicle was delivered by Motus Nissan East Rand Mall manager Donavan Lotter and senior sales consultant Andre Burger on November 12.
iThemba Rape and Trauma Support Centre received a new vehicle from the Department of Social Development (DSD) in aid of a swift response to victims of gender-based violence.
The organisation is dedicated to offering comprehensive care for the survivors of traumatic events, as well as their family and friends. It offers victims counselling and psychosocial support.
The vehicle was delivered by Motus Nissan East Rand Mall’s manager Donavan Lotter and senior sales consultant Andre Burger on November 12.
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Chairperson Dr Sipho P. Malapane said iThemba is an entity that is funded by the DSD, adding that after 15 years that they have been in existence, their services are in demand.
“We are now serving over 500 victims a year and we have grown to 78 staff members.
“We are running short of logistical resources, especially vehicles and that undermines the quality of service we provide to victims.
We then made an application to the DSD to ask for assistance for another vehicle that can help our social workers to do their work efficiently,” said Malapane.
“We currently work on rape and trauma cases but we also want to now look at issues where we will be able to help minors, so our mandate is expanding. We are also looking at the possibility of extending our services to other provinces as well.”
Malapane said this would’ve not been possible with the current vehicles that they had and the response from DSD was positive as this new vehicle would make a huge difference.
“I am very happy because this will take the quality of what we want to bring to the public to a new level. When our staff is happy, it will be able to deliver on its duties and that will improve our services. Seeing the response we get from the public also motivates us,” he said.
“As special thanks to DSD and City Times for educating the community about our services.” Burger said they were approached by iThemba for a quotation and after speaking to his manager, they managed to offer them good pricing and their profits as a discount.
“This was our way of giving back to assist the organisation to continue providing its needed services to the community,” said Burger. The organisation has eight victim empowerment centres (VEC) based at Ekurhuleni police stations.
Its main office is at 119 Mowbray Avenue, Western Extension, and iKhaya Lethemba in Braamfontein, Johannesburg.
Its VEC offices are at the Actonville, Benoni, Boksburg, Crystal Park, Daveyton, Etwatwa, Putfontein and Tsakani police stations.
For more information about the organisation or to donate, contact its office on 011 422 4107.
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