Provincial SAPS tackle crime at Rietvlei
Find out how you can be less vulnerable to dangerous situations everywhere.
PROVINCIAL SAPS officers hosted a free one-day workshop on August 15 educating women and children aged 10 and up on self-defence and awareness at the Rietvlei Zoo Farm.
The Butterfly Hall was packed to the brim with female residents, their children and even men wanting to learn how to keep themselves and their loved ones safe.
Child pornography, safety on the internet, rape, domestic violence, safety at ATMs and safety during hijackings and robberies took centre stage at the informative workshop. Captain Hennie Bouwer, the workshop facilitator, demonstrated exactly how one can make yourself less vulnerable to and defend yourself in an incidence of violent crime.
Bouwer said he’s been hosting these workshops since 1994 and has worked with crèches and schools in the south. “I started teaching in churches everywhere in Gauteng and then it spread when residents asked me to have bigger workshops for the community. The aim is to help the community and it hurts me that most women are abused every day – so I thought let me help them,” said Bouwer.
Officers said residents must know their police station number and all emergency numbers by heart. It’s also imperative that someone always knows where you are going and that children should not be left alone at home or elsewhere where they can be susceptible to abuse, alcohol or drugs.
Visit www.comarochronicle.co.za for a video presentation by Warrant Officer Veronica Banks on internet safety for adults and children with access to cellphones or tablets.
