What does the AfriForum trauma unit do?

The AfriForum trauma unit was established in 2015, arising from the need to support victims of farm attacks and farm murders. Over time, the unit expanded to provide support to victims during police legal processes and court hearings as well. All of this was coordinated from the trauma unit in Pretoria.

The trauma unit provides the following services for victims of farm murders and attacks:

1. Counselling: Trained trauma counsellors from the unit employ counselling techniques to help victims heal the emotional and psychological wounds caused by the traumatic incident, enabling them to function normally again.
2. Defusing: Defusing is a structured process conducted with an individual or a group. The aim of defusing is to restore a sense of normality to the group or individual by addressing the fear, anxiety, uncertainty, and emotions triggered by the traumatic incident. For various reasons, defusing does not take place until at least 72 hours after the incident or event.
3. Emotional support: Emotional support involves caring, nurturing, encouragement, reassurance, active listening, and empathy, as well as assisting and supporting the person or victim going through this traumatic incident and its aftermath. This takes place through in-person visits, or – where that is not possible – via telephone or digital media such as Zoom or Teams.

The emotional support provided by the trauma unit entails the following:

• At the scene: Trained trauma volunteers (200) provide support to the victim and their family at the scene of the incident or crime. The volunteers are activated by neighbourhood watches and work very closely with them.
• Provide emotional support to victims during police and legal processes, e.g., reporting a case, sexual harassment, rape, and domestic violence.
• Emotional support in court – attend court proceedings with the victim.
• Support the victim during hospitalisation.
• Provide telephonic support to victims if they do not request in-person visits.
• Support victims via Zoom or Teams.
• Empowerment: Empowerment entails providing the victim with information, knowledge, and skills to act correctly and appropriately within the circumstances and to follow the necessary legal processes.

This includes knowledge, information, and skills regarding the following matters:

• Making a statement (counsellors do not write statements on behalf of victims).
• Investigation processes
• Court proceedings
• Legal requirements and processes regarding child molestation, rape, and domestic violence.
• Court preparation
• Referral to specialised services and organizations (if necessary). For example: psychologists, psychiatrists, social workers.
• Material: AfriForum’s trauma unit has a victim support fund maintained through donations. The victim support fund enables us to provide financial assistance to victims who cannot afford it, or in cases where we know the situation could cause them further trauma. The victim support fund supports victims by:
• Cleaning up the scene
• Purchasing new bedding
• Purchasing groceries
• Helping to improve security by installing alarm systems
• Assisting with the payment for surgeries, medication, or hospital expenses when victims cannot afford them.

If you would like to make a donation to AfriForum’s victim support fund, please use the bank details below with the reference “Victim Support Fund”

Beneficiary: AfriForum NPC
Bank: FNB
Account number: 623 498 983 98
Branch: Centurion
Branch code: 261-550
Reference: Victim Support Fund