5 August 2014
Community outreach programmes will be a focus of Women’s Month in parts of the Western Cape affected by a high incidence of violence against women and children, provincial police commissioner Arno Lamoer has said.
In a briefing on 5 August, the Western Cape Development Committee of the Justice Crime Prevention and Security Cluster said community workshops would be held in areas such as Nyanga, Mitchells Plain, Malmesbury, Steenberg, Clanwilliam, Knysna and Delft.
The workshops would be aimed at educating communities about their rights in terms of the criminal justice system.
A particular focus would be placed on sexual offences, domestic violence and child maintenance. Communities would learn about rights and responsibilities in relation to the Children’s Act, divorces, custody and access, domestic violence and protection orders.
Advocate Hishaam Mohamed, the chairperson of the Western Cape cluster, called on people to apply for restraining orders against those who pose a threat to them. He said people should not withdraw restraining orders without consulting the justice system for advice.
Lamoer appealed to Western Cape communities to report crime, to follow up on court cases, and to attend court hearings.
He said police officers would be assigned to trace the progress of domestic violence cases.
Attorneys had been mobilised to volunteer their services to these communities during the initiative, the speakers said.
Simphiwe Xako, the communications coordinator of the Correctional Services department raised concerns about the number of women and children in prison.
“These women and children often don’t get visits from the families and that has severe consequences on their future.
“They often live with that stigma for most of their lives,” he said.
The provincial cluster has appealed to communities to attend the workshops.