OUT AFRICA MAGAZINE Issue 43

Page 40

In the photo from left to right: Station Commander - Colonel Van Der Berg, Victim Empowerment Co-ordinator - Sergeant Teixeira, Schmidhauser Electrical & Plumbing, Keegan Weyer standing, Daniel Schmidhauser crouching, Counselling psychologist - Heather Kirkwood standing, Nicola Kruger crouching

The Department of Community Safety, South African Police Services (SAPS) and Community Police Forums (CPF’s) work in partnership and play a central role in developing the community-based victim support programmes and establish victim friendly facilities and volunteer networks at all police stations to improve services to survivors of crime and violence.

HELPING SURVIVORS OF ABUSE

Schmidhauser sponsors SAPS Woodstock Police - Rape and Domestic Violence Survivors

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Victim-Friendly Room (VFR) provides an opportunity for victims of intimate violence (gender-based violence, child abuse, sexual offences and domestic violence) to make their statements in private and in a non-threatening environment.

They provide comfort and privacy to the victims and a venue where other relevant support services can be rendered. They are often the initial point of entry into the criminal justice system and where a victim support volunteer can provide free counselling and information. A team of dedicated volunteers work on a 24hr (365 day) standby roster and offer their personal time, resources and support to victims of crime. This is a free service offered to all residents in the area. The team is often exposed to horrific crime scenes and many times need to provide people with basic essentials such as food, clothes and toiletries. This is particularly true when victims or survivors, as we like to call them, of rape and domestic violence are taken to hospitals and their clothes and belongings are retained for forensic evidence. Most of these survivors are left severely injured and abandoned without any possessions. According to SA Police Services 41,583 rapes were recorded in 2018/19. This means an average of 114 rapes per day with 41% of them against children. Rape statistics are difficult to calculate accurately; however It is estimated that only I in 9 rapes are reported to police. With the present state of Covid-19, there has been a horrifying escalation in crime and violence especially against women and children. With this in mind, Heather Kirkwood, a Consulting Counselling Psychologist at Schmidhauser Electrical and Plumber in Woodstock along with Dan Schmidhauser, CEO and his exceptional staff are making a positive difference in survivor’s lives. Mag 38

Mr Schmidhauser said, “this business has been run successfully by our family for 3 generations on the foundation of family, care, support, kindness, community and unconditional giving. This is a time when we all have to do whatever it takes to care for each other so we can come through this better, bolder and whole. The safety and protection of our women and children in our community has got to be a priority and this is why we have reached out to Woodstock SAPS to assist wherever possible” With the assistance of Heather Kirkwood who has been a Victim Empowerment Volunteer for 18 years they have created a Comfort Kit for the Survivors of Rape and/or Domestic violence. These bags contain items such as tooth brush, tooth paste, face cloth, body cream, shampoo, underwear, sanitary pads, water, chocolate, comb, soap, information brochure on rape and counselling. A notebook, pencil, pen and coloured pencils are also included. Mrs Kirkwood explained that during a traumatic event one of the first sections of the brain to “shut down” is the memory. Slowly these “files” will start to open and additional details of the event will appear. These details will be crucial to the case and therefore the survivor will have the means to document them. It is also hoped that by drawing, the survivor can start the process of healing. Mr Schmidhauser is appealing to the community to assist wherever possible. Him and his team are committed to repairing the electrical and plumbing in the VEP room which needs a lot of up grading including woodwork, painting, furniture etc. Schmidhauser is an Essential Service and is operating 24/7 during Covid-19 Lock down. Call +27 214244588, Hotline 0800 029 999, E-mail: Daniel@Schmidhauser.co.za


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