Organisations offering support to victims of gender-based violence shared advice to pupils of Focus College in Wynberg during a workshop last Thursday, August 8.
Shariefa Job, director of The Lighthouse Orphanage, a non-profit company in Salt River, who spearheaded the event, said the intention was to, “create awareness, informing the students of the various organisations they can reach out to for support and providing them with the knowledge to empower themselves.”
Ms Job’s organisation helps victims of violence by accompanying them the police station and hospital and assisting with food parcels and toiletries.
“We also assist families whose homes have burnt with clothing, toiletries, food parcels, furniture, etc and we participate in community activities.”
Guest speakers included Wynberg SAPS, Mosaic, Body Knowledge Truth, Varsity College community law clinic and Rape Crisis.
Cheslin Petersen, principal of Focus College, said the information shared was valuable, informative and shaped their pupils’ thinking. “Based on my learner’s interaction and reaction it was evident that much of the speaker’s presentation content was new and other information was reinforced.”
Focus College pupils are from various disadvantaged areas across Cape Town such as Mitchell’s Plan, Gugulethu and Khayelitsha.
“These conversations with my learners were needed as many of them could relate and now know how to address these matters,” said Mr Petersen.
Sergeant Halgernon Jacobs from Wynberg SAPS spoke about dealing with protection orders when victims report violence such as domestic abuse. He also explained forms of domestic violence, including physical, emotional, economic and verbal abuse, harassment and stalking.
He said an interim protection order will be filled in by the victim which will be used in court against the perpetrator.
Captain Abigail Golding, forensic social worker at Wynberg Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offences (FCS) unit, shared a screen presentation on the prevalence of abuse, with statistics showing that one in three young South Africans experience some form of sexual abuse in their lives.
Captain Golding said a sexual abuse case can be reported years after the incident. “And if you don’t feel strong enough to talk about it we can refer you to the necessary care unit.”
Three Mosaic employees shared their duties when cases were referred to them from the police.
Zanda Africa, programme manager of the Thuthuzela Care Centre (TTC) at Mosaic, said the centre provides comfort, care and support to victims of violence.
“We also have a whole basket of services and we work with other service providers including doctors and nurses. The doctor will examine the victim and if there is evidence of abuse, they will ask you if you are willing to open a case. And if you do, we will get you the assistance to lead you through it.”
Questions to the pupils were about how men and boys can be more respectful towards women and girls.
Ayant Jaggan of Varsity College community law clinic encouraged the pupils to speak out against injustice. “Whether you are 10, 12, 15 or 18 you have rights and you need to exercise your rights if anything is worrying you whether it be domestic violence, sexual assault, or any issue that is concerning and worrying to you. Please speak,” he said.
