Ever so often news headlines about vicious crimes of rape and murder overshadow the harsh realities faced by victims, who silently suffer behind the shock factor of hard news in areas such as Mbekweni.
An imbizo focussing on victim / survivor awareness and to engage with victims was recently held at the Mbekweni Youth Centre. Organised by the Judicial Inspectorate for Correctional Services (JICS), it was attended by local stakeholders who discussed crime prevention and ways in which victims can receive local support and liberation.
Addressing the imbizo, Reverend Zuko Patrick Vuthela of JICS shared some of the issues that were focused on:
“We discussed the challenges directly related to the high crime rate within our communities. We no longer feel safe in our households, suburbs or even in public spaces.
“Some incidents relate to economics, anger caused by abuse and lack of a sense of belonging. Lack of role models and proper nuclear-family structures were also deeply concerning.”
These incidents mirror challenges faced by survivors or victims elsewhere too.
Vuthela said it had also been noted with concern that there was a lack of empowerment programmes for victims of crime, “more especially during the period of incarceration, when the perpetrator has been sentenced.”
At the imbizo, victims alluded to the fact that there are no programmes designed to deal with the emotional trauma suffered, be it directly or indirectly.
Those in attendance believed that victims have a right to dignity, respect, care and therapeutic treatment to overcome such trauma and to ensure no secondary victimisation stemming from unresolved trauma, worsens the socio-economic ills of high crime rates.
“The minister from the Mbekweni Pastor’s Fraternal pointed to the fact that more needs to be done,” Vuthela said. “But most importantly, victims’ experience was that there has neverbeen proper psychological or therapeutic intervention for the trauma.
“The victims thanked JICS for providing a platform to give an input and be remembered by government.
“But inmates, too, should be encouraged to take part in the Victim Offender Dialogue soon after sentencing as part of their rehabilitation process.”
Discussions on the day yielded fruitful results in which various needed steps were agreed upon.
Short-term goals include:. To go to schools, youth events and to carry on with awareness campaigns.. To have a referral system in place for the victims of crime.. To ensure proper rehabilitation systems inside the facilities and when inmates are released on parole.. Local churches have agreed to open their doors to victim empowerment.
Long-term goals related to:. Mandated government organisations to have a database of victims.. To have a controlled referral system in place.. Continuous awareness campaigns in communities.
In a call to grow this initiative by JICS in partnership with stakeholders, “we invite all local and district stakeholders to come forward and assist. Combined efforts by various stakeholder engagements in different communities is the best way forward”.
The imbizo also seeks to encourage councillors to lead such engagements.
