Social Services

The information must be requested from the South African Police Service (SAPS) since this is not provided to Social Development.

2.The National Development Plan (Vision 2030) identified crime as a complex issue which requires a multi-faceted approach, particularly to ensure that all people in South Africa are and feel safe in their communities. Gender-based violence is a serious social crime challenge in South Africa that needs the collective efforts of everyone and every sector in society.

The first principle of any crime prevention strategy places individuals and the communities in which crime occurs at the centre of its prevention efforts. In fulfilling its mandate as set in various pieces of legislation (Probation Services Act No. 116 of 1991, the Children’s Act No 38 of 2005, the Child Justice Act No. 75 of 2008).

The Department of Social Development developed “In the Mirror / I am me” Sexual Offenders Programme as part of a set of training programmes to empower young people with critical life skills to cope with the demand of everyday life and also highlight the important role that both the family and community can play in the process.

The “In the Mirror / I am me” Sexual Offenders Programme contribute to the eradication of gender-based violence by addressing factors such as poor social skills and a lack of empathy which can lead to gender-based and other related offending. The programmes also involve problem-solving, creative thinking, social perspective taking, moral reasoning, social skills and critical thinking in order to help the perpetrators control their criminogenic needs. The two social development programmes are facilitated by qualified social workers and incorporates techniques in accordance with the cognitive behavioural therapy and social learning theories. These theories are applied to hold perpetrators accountable for their behaviour, to help them learn to take responsibility for their behaviour and to motivate them to change. Alternatives to inappropriate behaviour are also provided to help them examine their choices and to assist in future decision-making.

The two programmes were adjudicated upon for the first time during the 2015/16 diversion accreditation cycle, by an independent Adjudication Committee, appointed by the National Department of Social Development. Probation officers (qualified social workers in the Department) have been trained on the facilitation of these programmes

The two programmes were adjudicated upon for the first time during the 2015/16 diversion accreditation cycle, by an independent Adjudication Committee, appointed by the National Department of Social Development. Probation officers (qualified social workers in the Department) have been trained on the facilitation of these programmes.

The objectives of the programmes and activities are aligned with the norms and standards of the Policy Framework for Accreditation of Diversion Services in South Africa to:

• Ensure that programme activities are easily accessible and appropriate to the child’s age and physical and cognitive ability;
• promote accountability and responsibility for the harm caused by his/her actions
• enhance victim empathy, values clarification and development related to respect for self and others;
• develop a commitment to stop interpersonal violence, promote healthy identity, mutual respect in male-female relationships and a respect for diversity.
• Gain an understanding of healthy sexual behaviour and to correct distorted or erroneous thoughts and beliefs to reduce inappropriate and/or criminal behaviour and to prevent relapse.
• Involve parents/significant others for effective reintegration of the child into his/her family and community
• To track and trace the participants over a period of two years to measure the effectiveness of the provided interventions, in compliance with the Minimum norms and standards for diversion
• The programmes were accredited after the independent national accreditation structure found that the programme content is based on sound research evidence of the “what works” principle to reduce criminogenic behaviour;
• The two programmes cater for children between the ages of 10 -12 years (I am me) and 13 – 17 years (In the Mirror), respectively, to accommodate the developmental needs pertaining to the child’s age, physical and cognitive abilities
• Location of programme sites provide reasonable geographical accessibility to the participants
• Due to the therapeutic content, the programmes is managed, facilitated and supervised by Probation officers, who are qualified social work professionals
• Participants are provided with a pre-intervention and post-intervention assessment to measure changes in behaviour
• Participants also have treatment plans that incorporate measurable goals, objectives and treatment interventions as well as the responsible persons identified for intervention and supervision, which is based on their individual Portfolio of Evidence and personal evaluation forms
• All parents/significant others must participate to increase their understanding and support for optimal reintegration of the child into his/her family and community
• The DSD Tracking Tool are utilised as part of Reintegration and after-care services to measure the participants’ personal, social and academic development and to identify and address criminogenic risk factors.

• a) Eight of the hotspots identified are in the Western Cape

  b) The areas are Delft, Nyanga, Khayelitsha, Mfuleni, Mitchells Plain, Kraaifontein, Gugulethu and Bellville.

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  The Western Cape Department of Social Development was not consulted by the national government with regards to the identification of the hotspots.