Community members were invited to join Sandton Police’s Victim Empowerment Centre Open Day on 27 November during the National Week of Mourning for Victims of Covid-19 and Gender-Based Violence (GBV).
Spokesperson for the Sandton Police Station, Captain Bheki Xulu said the station opened a new Victim Empowerment Centre in a container behind the station. The container includes an admin room, bathroom and children’s section.
Xulu said, “We hope that this centre will help start the healing process for victims of gender-based violence, sexual offenses, and domestic violence.”
He added that while cases of GBV were down at the Sandton Police Station during the lockdown, he was concerned about the number of victims who come back to the station to withdraw their cases.
“I want to tell victims to report cases of GBV and don’t drop charges. Victims are so often manipulated by their partners and family members to withdraw their case.”
Xulu said community members were creating more scars for themselves by remaining in abusive relationships.
“My message to parents is to listen to your kids. Children are so often abused for years, but parents don’t listen to what they say and don’t believe them. Protect your children.”
Sandton CPF chairperson N. Pillay spoke to the Chronicle concerning the work of the CPF to assist victims of gender-based violence and other crimes.
“This new centre is a safe zone for victims. Often victims experience crime and feel uneasy in the station. This is a safe bubble where they can walk in and seek help,” said the chair.
He added that the CPF had a number of teams working to protect victims of crime. The first is the Victim Empowerment Team which consists of 40 trained volunteers who provide free trauma counselling to victims of crime. The second is the Sandton Guardians team who are the first responders when a crime takes place. They help to contain the situation before the police arrive.
A trauma containment team of volunteers was called to the scene of crimes where victims were traumatised, to help victims understand their rights and provide practical help.
Volunteers Lauren Nightingale and Jessica Louwrens, who form part of the trauma containment team, spoke to the Chronicle to discuss their role.
Louwrens explained, “If the guardians see that victims need help, they call us. We see to the immediate needs of the victim, helping them call family, ensure added security and look after their children while police take their statements. We also provide debriefing to victims and tell them about the counselling services on offer at Sandton police.”
Xulu concluded that the purpose of the Open Day event was to notify the community about the route that victims of gender-based violence should follow.
Details: Call the Sandton Victim Empowerment Programme on 082 774 7564 or Sandton police on 011 722 4200.
