The Domestic Watch meetings in August cover abuse and, more importantly, what to do if you have been abused.
At one of those meetings, held at St Michael’s Church in Bryanston on 18 August, the 14 attendees came away with a wealth of knowledge on the options that exist for abuse victims.
Thembi Ncala, chief social worker at the Department of Community Safety in Braamfontein, and Sharol Dhlamini, social auxiliary worker at the department, gave a presentation about abuse, the ways in which abuse victims can help themselves and the help that a shelter, such as the Department of Community Safety, can provide.
The women spoke about the legal help courts can grant to abuse victims, including peace orders and protection orders that can keep abusers from continuing to hurt their victims or can keep them away altogether.
The women went on to describe how victims who do not feel safe or are pushed out of their homes can go to shelters. “When you enter a shelter, someone will be there to meet you at the door. We give you clothes, toiletries and then a medical examination to make sure you are fit and healthy and can be admitted,” said Ncala.
She went on to describe the facilities that are available to those who are admitted, including a crèche, a library and transportation for young children to go to school. She also said that victims will meet with social workers and therapists to help them work through the lasting impressions of abuse.
In particular, she said that the Family Justice Unit and the Counselling Unit can take walk-in victims as well, not just residents at the shelter.
The talk finished off with the reassurance by Ncala, Dhlamini and Penny Steyn, the founder and leader of Domestic Watch, that victims of abuse are not alone and that they need to help one another escape their abusers.
For more information on the Domestic Watch programme, contact Penny Steyn on 082 461 6968; madpenny@absamail.co.za
