The Dawn Park Victim Empowerment Centre has seen a number of men coming for counselling and reporting their issues since its establishment, unlike before when men feared secondary victimisation at the police station.
According to the social auxiliary worker of the Victim Empowerment Centre, Thembeka Ndaba, that’s a good sign, because men and women face the same problems.
“Men also experience abuse, domestic violence and GBV, and when they come to us to speak about their experience it helps them a lot, because we advise them to make the right choices.
“Counselling is offered to the victims of abuse, domestic violence, GBV, drug addicts and couples. We offer services to a lot of people on weekly basis that includes men and women. From providing our services as a centre, I have witnessed that GBV, abuse and domestic violence are real problem in the society,” explained Ndaba.
She said the contributing factors to GBV, domestic violence and abuse are the social ills in the community, lack of communication and dishonesty among couples and power and financial dynamics in relationships
“ A lot of people benefit a lot from getting counselling from us and instances wherein people are being abused in relationships, we don’t tell them to leave their partners, but we layout options for them and refer them to a place of safety,” explained Ndaba.
The Victim Empowerment Centre also initiates GBV, domestic violence and abuse awareness drives in partnership with other stakeholders.
“We held a crime and GBV awareness drive with the police on April 26. We take part in the awareness drives, because we want to equip people with information.
“There’s seven workers that keep this Victim Empowerment Centre running. We have four victim supporters, one social auxiliary worker, a supervisor and a coordinator of the centre.”
The victim support worker of the Victim Empowerment Centre, Matiisetso Cele said their services are making a difference in the community.
“There are a number of people we have helped to overcome their dire situations, and they have come back later to thank us, so that shows we are doing a great job,” stated Cele.
Constable Thabisa Cekiso, who is the coordinator of the Victim Empowerment Centre, said she is responsible for opening cases of abuse, rape and domestic violence and referring the victims to the Victim Empowerment Centre.
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