Coordinator Nokuthula Mchunu, May 2008:

"A police officer told me that their work is now much easier since we are situated at the police station, because we are able to help them when they do not know how to deal with people from deep rural areas, who are uneducated and who have been traumatised." 
(Left) CCJ Coordinators with local police

Police refer more clients to CCJ than any other organisation (379 referrals in 2009), while coordinators referred 103 clients to the police in the same period. Police often send victims to support centres because they do not know how to deal with a case, or for help with counselling and the taking of statements. Many clients come to support centres first when reporting a crime, in which case coordinators help with counselling and statements before directing clients on to the police to lay a charge if they wish to.

In 2009, the superintendents at Bulwer, Himeville, Plessislaer, Taylor’s Halt, Mpumalanga, Osizweni, Dundee and Mooi River police stations emphasised the good working relationships with coordinators. All expressed appreciation for the work of the offices, adding that they were regarded as integral to their work. The Bulwer Superintendent mentioned the community programme the police run jointly with the coordinators every week, while all coordinators say that police help them with transport. Coordinators also have meetings at some police stations where they share statistics.

Sibongile Masondo, May 2008:

"The police just open criminal cases and deal with the legal procedures, but they refer cases to me if they do not know how to handle them or if they have failed to resolve the case."

Nombuso Ngcobo, Nov 2008: Child Rape Reported by Teacher

On 4 November 2008 a rape case was reported by a school teacher and a member of the board of governors.

The rape involved a child aged 11 years. She resides in the Emakhasi area. On 2 November 2008 at about 2 pm she was playing with her other siblings outside of the family premises. The suspect, who is their neighbour, asked her to fetch his cell phone to re-charge at home.

The suspect was standing next to the door of the house. When she got inside the house the suspect moved to the bedroom door and told her to come and fetch the cell phone. He immediately closed the main door and called her to follow him to the bedroom. She followed him, unaware that he was going to rape her. He told her to remove her trousers and her underwear and put her on the bed. He then raped her.

On 4 November I went to the charge office to report it to the SAPS and a case of rape was opened. I counselled the victim and her grandmother. I explained the case procedure as well as the doctor’s examination to the victim. I took the statement from the victim and the victim was taken to the doctor by a female police officer.

On 5 November 2008 the suspect was arrested. The case is under investigation.

Happy Mthalane, Aug 2007: Child Rape – Referral from the Police

I dealt with a rape case involving a child. She was only 11 years old at the time and lived with her grandmother. She was then in Grade 6.

She had been raped by her grandmother’s boyfriend, who was also living with them. He had started raping her in March 2007. At times, her grandmother would work the night-shift at a hotel. She said that every time that her grandmother had worked the night-shift, he had slept with her and had then told her not to tell anybody.

On the 14 August 2007, she had started bleeding after he had raped her. He had told her to go to the clinic, but that she should not tell the nurse what he had done to her. She decided to go to the police for help and they brought her to our office.

I obtained a statement from her in order to open a case, took her to hospital and called her grandmother to come to our office. I also called a social worker and referred the matter to the police.