Have your say on Victim Support Services Bill

TODAY is the last day for South Africans to comment on the gazetted Victim Support Services Bill (VSS Bill).

The Bill seeks to fight gender-based violence by putting the victim and their rights at the forefront of the criminal justice system and give the victim the same rights as the accused.

According to a statement by the Department of Social Development, the the criminal justice system puts an emphasis on the rights of the accused and provides various services for the accused. It noted this then left room for secondary victimisation.

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The Bill proposes the protection of victims, the provision of legal representation for victims, the provision of various services for victims, for the state to carry the legal costs of victims should they wish to sue the accused for damages and the vetting of persons against the Child Protection Register (CPR) and the National Register for Sex Offenders (NRSO).

You can submit your comments on the Bill to sizam@dsd.gov.za, luyandamt@socdev.gov.za or annas@dsd.gov.za.      

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