Author: admin

SayPro You see, the client, Winnie*, was the victim of a horrific gang rape. She was referred to Diepsloot Youth Project by a member of the Diepsloot Community Policing Forum (CPF), a community-level structure that victims often turn to for help in the first instance. Recognising this, Diepsloot Youth Project has been working to strengthen Diepsloot Youth Project relationship with the CPF including providing them training in mid-March. As such, this referral is a small victory. Furthermore, Diepsloot Youth Project has developed a strong relationship with the investigating officer assigned to the case and, as such, Diepsloot Youth Project were able to engage with the officer as she went above and beyond to build a strong evidence base for the prosecutor to argue against bail. This is a small victory. Diepsloot Youth Project’s staff attorney, Rethabile, spent hours with Winnie in the week leading up to the bail hearing, ensuring that she understood the criminal procedure, answering all her questions, and assuring her that Diepsloot Youth Project would be present at court on the day of the bail hearing monitoring the proceedings. This is a small victory. Meanwhile, at the same time, Winnie had several individual trauma counselling sessions with Diepsloot Youth Project’s therapist, Noluthando, where she was able to begin to work through the trauma she had suffered. This is a small victory.