Red Day event at the Roodepoort Magistrate’s Court
Roodepoort Magistrate's Court's sexual offenses court gets an upgrade.
On May 11, Keller Williams Advance in partnership with Matla A Bana and the Association of Regional Magistrates of Southern Africa (ARMSA) held a Red Day event at the Roodepoort Magistrate’s Court.
The event aimed to upgrade the sexual offenses court to give the victims a calmer surrounding. According to Lizel van Eeden, the project manager for Matla A Bana they want to create a space in which the children feel safe so there isn’t any added stress on them. Along with the upgrade to the court, they are also giving out care packages, to make the process easier on the children.
The care packages are specifically designed for the age groups of the children. Van Eeden stated they have found the majority of victims are aged five to eight and nine to 12, therefor they have designed the care packages for those specific age groups. The care packages contain basic toiletries and underwear, with a colouring-in book and a soft toy, along with a survivor’s guide for the smaller children and a notebook for the older children, which they can use to make notes or as a diary. There is also a snack pack that includes juice, an energy bar, a cup-a-soup, and cookies.
The initiative to upgrade the court, aside from making it easier for the children, came from the desire to give every child a new outlook. The upgrades made to the court included a new coat of paint, a mural, and new furniture for the waiting room.
The waiting room is also situated closer to the court to avoid children having to walk down long corridors, which puts more stress on them.
