Garden Route District launches victim friendly room at Kwanokuthula

Media Statement
South African Police Service
Office of the Provincial Commissioner Western Cape

GARDEN ROUTE DISTRICT – The Garden Route District stepped up the fight against Gender Based Violence and Femicide (GBVF) with the relaunch of the Kwanokuthula SAPS victim friendly room at an event hosted at the police station on Wednesday, 05 March 2025.

The Garden Route District Commissioner, Major General Phumzile Cetyana was joined by the Executive Mayor of Bitou, neighbouring station commanders, non-governmental organizations, community police forums, local leaders and members of the community at this important intervention. The victim friendly room (VFR) is a service where victims of crime are empowered with emotional support, practical support, information sharing and victims or survivors are referred to professional support services where required.

This relaunch of the VFR was made possible with the partnership of local businesses and volunteers. The Executive Mayor of Bitou, Councillor Jessica Kamkam during her address, emphasised the importance of the partnership with police to ensure that victims of crime receive the necessary support once affected.

Major Gen Cetyana urged police members to ensure that the Ministerial six point plan is fully implemented and that victims of crime receive all benefits associated with the plan. It includes the following:

• All victims should be treated with respect and dignity and interviewed by a trained police official in a victim sensitive manner.
• Victims should be assisted in a victim friendly or alternative room, where a statement will be taken in private providing victim support services.
• Victims will be referred/taken for medical examination by the healthcare professional to obtain medical evidence and complete a medical report, including seeing to the health of the victim.
• The investigation should be conducted by the Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offences Investigation Unit or a detective with relevant training.
• Victims of sexual offences, femicide and infanticide and their families should be referred to victim support services that are available within the precinct for legal, medical, social and psychological help.
• Victims should be proactively and continuously given feedback on the progress of their cases.

The District Commissioner also urged sister departments, non-governmental organizations, community leaders and the community to work hand in hand with the police in the fight against crime especially GBVF. He said, “It is our responsibility to ensure that the rights of victims of crime are protected at all times. Victims of crime must be treated with fairness, respect and courtesy when reporting incidents of crime. There should be no discrimination, regardless of their circumstances, population group, gender, age, disability, sexual orientation or appearance. It is now the responsibility of all of us to put systems in place for the full utilization of the improved facilities in the victim friendly room”, Maj Gen Cetyana concluded.

Ends

Enquiries:
Sergeant Christopher Spies
082 559 4616

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