Pretoria domestic workers taught to fight back

Domestic workers are being taught how to react when they become victims in armed house robberies.

During the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic Pretoria has seen an increase in armed house robberies.

Multiple organisations initiated an educational group called Domestic Workers Unite where house managers – as they are known – were taught various skills to help them during moments of distress.

The initiative took place on September 8 and 15 at the Valley Methodist Church, in Villieria, where domestic workers were provided with first-hand knowledge and skills regarding basic first-aid, self-defence, de-escalation and desensitising skills after a home robbery.

“Not all domestic workers are empowered with skills how to manage such critical incidents,” said Carmen Engelbrecht, a Unisa social work student initiated the programme.

Engelbrecht collaborated with Mon Ami Trauma – Troops, Villieria and Garsfontein police, Dynamic Development Institute and other community role-players.

“The World Health Organisation’s directions on psychological first-aid as well as South Africa’s policies on victim empowerment emphasise provision of information and education as major contributors to empower survivors of crime or disaster.

“Information and skills development play a significant part in the survivors’ recuperation from traumatic events. During and shortly after a crisis event a sense of control serves as facilitative in prevention of further psychological harm.”

Engelbrecht identified the need in the community after several domestic workers were involved in armed house robberies and had been robbed while travelling to and from work.

She said when people were empowered and prepared for crisis events, they handled such events with more certainty and a sense that they could conduct themselves more productively during horrific experiences.

“Survivors of such experiences also felt prepared should a house robbery occur in future,” she said.

“The knowledge gained could also be applied in other parts of the survivor’s life as crises arise.”

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This initiative was well received by the participants who received a certificate of attendance afterwards.

Englebrecht said the participants will tell their fellow workers about the group and suggest that they also attend when the next educational group sessions occur.

“This initiative will be repeated soon – as the knowledge and skills transfer was evident and found to be productive by group participants,” she said.

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