#WisdomWednesday: Victim of abuse? How or where to seek justice …
VIDEO: The Victims Support Centre explains how women should report abuse in light of #Women'sMonth.
With the focus on women empowerment during Women’s Month, the Herald went out to find out what steps women can take in the event of being violently abused.
According to Sibongile Langa, a counsellor at the Victims Support Centre, no abuse is too small or too big to report.
“It starts with yelling during an argument and then the next time, he hits you. It will escalate until you are dead if you don’t report it,” she said.
All victims of abuse, including women, children, and men, should report it to the Victims Support Centre immediately.
“Our doors are open to anyone who wants to report abuse. We don’t judge anyone and our services are free, so no one has an excuse not to report abuse. This is a safe place for all victims.”
In cases of physical violence, they will refer the victim to the police where a case of domestic violence will be opened. In other cases, a social worker will be assigned to the case and the victim will have to speak to a counsellor about their situation.
“If someone reports abuse and doesn’t have a place to go, we will refer them to a shelter. They will be taught skills like cooking so that they can go to work and start a new life,” Langa said.
The Victims Support Centre is a registered NGO but does not receive enough funds to buy necessities, food and clothing for victims who have run away from home.
“The community must please help us, so that we can help the victims of abuse,” Langa added.
The Victims Support Centre can be contacted on 011 767 2411.
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