The Sandton Police Station has deployed a special social worker to assist with issues of gender-based violence, depression and overall counselling for members of the community.
The Agisanang Domestic Abuse Prevention and Training NGO (Adapt) focuses on counselling through the creative participation of all members of the community.
Social worker Refilwe Kgoete will be working with the members of the Sandton Police Station to try and alleviate some of the pressures the community faces.
“The Social Crime and Prevention department head, Warrant Officer Segoa met up with other stations to discuss the scourge of gender-based violence and other issues within the north. Starting in Alexandra all the way to Sandringham, our services have been deployed. I am here to offer individual counselling to help the community and lighten their load.”
The services are available free of charge for anybody who lives in the area. Kgoete said that she went into social work because she loves giving a helping hand.
“The more I went into my field, the more I found that I was interested in issues about GBV and children. I have always said that I want to be what I needed when I was younger.”
She mentioned that the reason she has been deployed here was that there is a serious GBV issue in the northern suburbs.
“I would really like people to utilise [our services]. Some of our future plans are to have awareness campaigns and become visible to the community to put us to work.”