Mokopane victim support centre struggles to keep doors open

MOKOPANE – The victim support centre within the Mokopane SAPS premises is on the verge of shutting its doors due to a lack of funding.

Yolande Coetzee, councillor of the DA in Mogalakwena Municipality, said the DA has written to the MEC for Social Development, Mapula Mokaba-Phukwana, to urgently provide financial assistance to Mokopane’s victim support centre.

Coetzee said during an oversight inspection recently, the DA noticed the centre is in dire need of financial assistance to provide basic goods such as food, toiletries, clothes and blankets to the victims of gender-based violence.

“The centre is currently run by volunteers who assist victims daily without getting any stipends.

“Mokopane SAPS officials are currently buying food for the victims from their own pockets.”

According to Coetzee, the centre also offers basic counselling, prevention programmes for substance abuse and bullying at schools as well as debriefing programmes.

“They also support victims in court and provide temporary accommodation for victims as well as conducting home visits.

This non-government organisation (NGO) has been funded by the Department of Social Development since its inception in 2007.”

Coetzee said: “In 2016, their funds were redirected and tendered out to another NGO based elsewhere in Mokopane which is not in contact with SAPS in order to assist the victims.

“We want to know which victims this NGO supports as the Mokopane SAPS do not have any working relationship with them while their whereabouts and offices are unknown.”

The DA urges MEC Mokaba-Phukwana to probe the lack of funding for this centre which is a crucial support system for the victims of gender-based violence and stop its possible closure.

Col Isaac Mantjane, Station Commander of Mokopane SAPS, confirmed that he does not know of the NGO and they do support victims from their own pockets.

redaksie.bosvelder@nmgroup.co.za