CAPE TOWN, 6 March 2000
The partnership between the Department of Justice and Mosaic Training, Service and Healing Centre for Women, a non-governmental organisation offering services to abused women and youth, will be taken a step further with the official launch of the Mosaic Court Support Desks project taking place at Wynberg Magistrate's Court on Thursday, 9 March 2000 at 14H30.
In an effort to promote access to justice, the Department of Justice teamed up with Mosaic, who established Court Support Desks in Wynberg, Bellville and Goodwood Magistrate's Courts in March 1999. Last month, Mosaic opened another Court Support Desk at Paarl Magistrate's Court.
The Court Support Desks address the plight of the abused and more specifically, those trapped in the scourge of domestic violence. Mosaic Court Support Desks have been operating with trained supervisors and volunteers who offer free of charge service to abused people at courts. Volunteers offer a client-friendly service to people who want to apply for protection orders and maintenance.
The Mosaic Court Support Desks also provide crisis counselling and information regarding the procedures to be followed, the completion of relevant forms and affidavits as well as referral to other agencies that deal with domestic violence.
The expansion of the Court Support Desks into the Cape Town Family Court and three other Magistrate's Courts is expected to follow later this year. However, the establishment of additional Court Support Desks will rely on future donor funding.
The launch will also mark a significant milestone in a concerted effort by the Department of Justice to provide a user-friendly service to survivors of domestic violence, in support of the implementation of the Domestic Violence Act which came into effect on 15 December 1999.
ISSUED BY THE WESTERN CAPE REGIONAL OFFICE:
DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE AND CONSTITUTIONAL DEVELOPMENT AND
MOSAIC TRAINING, SERVICE AND HEALING CENTRE FOR WOMEN
ENQUIRIES:
JOSEPH MOHAJANE
LIAISON OFFICER
DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE
TEL : (021) 462 5471
FAX: (021) 462 3141
CELL: 082 652 1845
ROLENE MILLER
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
MOSAIC TRAINING, SERVICE AND HEALING CENTRE FOR WOMEN
TEL: (021) 434 7916
FAX: (021) 434 7586