To reaffirm their commitment to fighting gender-based violence, Langa SAPS re-launched its victim support room on Women’s Day.
It was done in collaboration with a number of organisations and individuals, including Spiritual Crime Prevention, the community policing forum, gender-based violence and femicide volunteers, Business Against Crime, councillors, legal advice volunteers, Disability Rights Matter, Junior Commission and the Youth Desk Committee on Tuesday August 9.
“We relaunch this support facility in the community to assist individuals who become victims in crisis situations. We hope it will be of assistance to all and our community will use it to expose the perpetrators,” said Langa SAPS station commander Colonel Deirdre Engelbrecht.
Andrew Anthony, chief executive of Business Against Crime Western Cape, said the upgrading and re-launching of the victim-friendly room served as acknowledgement of the plight of victims of crime, the most vulnerable of whom were children.
“The fear of crime is equally high to those who are victims of crime. The perception is that we will one day be victims of crime. We have the most advanced constitution but unfortunately crime does not come down,” he said, and called on people to be vocal about crime in their areas.
He said crime against the vulnerable matters – and should matter. “Sometimes we neglect and forget the victims. But this friendly room will instil hope. It will bring hope to the victims and will be a beacon of hope for all,” he said.
CPF chairperson Alfed Magwaca thanked all who had contributed to the re-launch of the room which would provide a space for victims to speak openly and freely, without fear.
“It gives the Langa CPF a great pleasure and fulfilment to see this project being finally realised,” he said.
“The victim friendly room will be a free confidential support space for the affected, vulnerable and the needy. It is going to have skilled people minding it, including social workers, trauma and neighbourhood watch volunteers from the community,” he said.
Western Cape Provincial Police Commissioner, Major General Mpumelelo Manci urged people to speak out against crime and violence and emphasised that victims must be informed about their rights and be taken care of.
Also at the re-launch event were the City’s mayoral committee member for safety and security JP Smith; SAPS’ provincial head for gender-based violence and victim empowerment Lieutenant Colonel Taswell Paulse; and local councillor Lwazi Pakade.
