A new, much larger victim support room was opened on Monday at the Durbanville Police Station.
This came after the victim empowerment programme (VEP) has been operating for more than 12 years from the small wendy house in front of the building of Durbanville police.
The wendy house has become dilapidated over the years and had no ablution facilities.
The new trauma room has a separate toilet and further consists of a large room which is divided with furniture in a sitting area, a play area for children and an office.
The building was erected by the national police service, Capt Susan Meyer of Durbanville police told TygerBurger.
At the opening of the new trauma room, Maryke van Dijk, VEP coordinator, quoted the American poet and civil rights activist Maya Angelou.
“People will forget what you said and what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel,” she said.
One of the volunteers told her she bumped into two victims from about eight to 10 years ago, van Dijk said.
“Both recognised her and called her by her name, and told her how thankful they were for her on that day of their traumatic experience.
This just show us how important it is to have victim support team in Durbanville. We are there for someone on their lowest day ever.
she said.
VEP has 18 volunteers in Durbanville and 10 in Fisantekraal.
“We as volunteers work with the police to assist victims of traumatic crime, such as armed robbery, house robberies, rape, murder, motor vehicle accidents and inquests.
she said.
They often end up packing overnight bags for people who have been attacked in their houses,to sleep with family, or make sure children and pets are cared for.
Decline in cases
However, the new trauma room came amid a decline in cases where the help of the volunteers are called upon. While they saw victims in an average of 19 cases per month in 2019 before the Covid-19 pandemic, the numbers has dwindled down to about four cases per month.
“Victims really do need support. The police officers must call us out, even if we just make the victim a cup of coffee,” said Danielle Cronje, a volunteer of VEP Durbanville.
Cronje told TygerBurger.
Louie Storm, chair of the Durbanville Community Police Forum, said they welcome the opening of the new facility.
“The Wendy house was not safe for victims. Victims often had to stand in the street due to lack of space. This new facility is not a nice to have, but a necessity. The Wendy house was becoming dilapidated and was not safe for victims anymore. We trust the police officers at crime scenes will refer victims for victim support, as they are required to do.
- A three-seater couch
- A lounge chair, a carpet for the sitting area
- A carpet for the children’s corner, a lockable office cupboard
- A storage cabinet (for cleaning supplies), two curtains and two curtain rails (1.4 x 1m)
- A coffee table (1 x 1m)
- A kettle
- A mobile toiletpaper stand
- An office desk, a garden bench and paint for a mural
- Anyone who can assist, must contact VEP Durbanville by email to Vep247365@gmail.com or phone 060 362 5315.
