Launched in 1999 NICRO Limpopo, the last of the provincial structures to be established, has been firmly placed on the map. In addition to the provincial office located in Polokwane, the organisation has satellite offices operating from the magisterial courts in Polokwane, Seshego, Matlala, Thabamoopo, Mankweng, Giyani, Namakgale, Ritavi, and Sekgosese.

Diversion and youth development, victim support and economic empowerment services are rendered in three of the province’s six municipal districts - Capricorn, Mopani and Vhembe - by three project managers and a volunteer coordinator under the leadership of the provincial director. Two additional staff members, an administrative officer and an office assistant, complete the province’s small but energetic staff team.

Community Victim Support

NICRO Limpopo’s victim support and empowerment services focus on the development of restorative justice and crime prevention/reduction initiatives on the one hand, while simultaneously providing critical support and intervention services to the survivors of crime, on the other.

The Community Victim Support Programme offers interventions in Mankweng, Polokwane, and Thabamoopo, with the vast majority of beneficiaries residing in semi-rural or rural communities. NICRO, in partnership with the South African Police Services (SAPS) and the Departments of Justice and Social Development, has established four fully-fledged victim support centres, while witness support services are also rendered from two local magisterial courts.

The vast majority of our Community Victim Support Programme beneficiaries, some 90%, are vulnerable female survivors of crime and violence from African Black communities. Domestic violence, rape or attempted rape, assault, child abuse and incest together accounted for some 90% of crimes committed against these survivors.

Diversion and Youth Development

The Diversion and Youth Development Programme has the widest spread of NICRO Limpopo’s services and is well distributed across the province. Services are rendered in Bolobedu, Giyani, Lenyenye, Lulekani Mankweng, Namakgale, Naphuno, Phalaborwa, Polokwane, Ritavi, Sekgosese, Seshego, Tzaneen and Matlala.

Programme beneficiaries are primarily vulnerable, youth at risk: socially excluded juvenile offenders who are in conflict with the law. The crime prevention component of the programme is also aimed at youth at risk who reside in communities with high crimes rates and who are highly susceptible to becoming involved in criminal activities. This initiative has introduced the concept of developing and mentoring “safety ambassadors” in high schools. NICRO trains and supports young people to serve as positive role models and work at dissuading their peers from participating in antisocial acts in the school environment and within the community.

The Youth Empowerment Scheme (YES), an eight-week life-skills programme for first time young offenders, remains the most utilised Diversion option with some 60% of all young beneficiaries who are diverted away from the formal criminal justice system becoming YES Programme participants. In addition to the Youth Empowerment Scheme, the following specialised programmes are also offered:

Pre-Trial Community Service (PTCS), which offers young offenders the opportunity of serving the community they have wronged for a set number of hours ;
Family Group Conferencing (FCG), which involves bringing together the victim, the offender and his/her family members, is geared towards repairing the damage caused and making plans to prevent the young person from re-offending;
The Journey Leadership Programme, an intensive therapeutic intervention and training programme aimed at high-risk youth and serious or multiple offenders includes life and vocational skills training in addition to community service, adventure education and a wilderness therapy component;

NICRO’s Diversion Programme has proven to be a highly effective and successful intervention for challenging criminal and delinquent behaviour , which results in young people conforming by acknowledging, understanding and taking responsibility for the consequences of their actions. Fewer than 10% of programme participants re-offend within a three-year period of having completed a NICRO Diversion programme.

Economic Opportunities

The Economic Opportunities Project (EOP) equips its clients with the skills, tools and support for economic re-engagement or to start their own micro enterprises in the informal sector. In addition to job creation and placement, business skills development services are provided. Entrepreneurial training is complemented by comprehensive non-financial as well as financial support services. These services are all geared towards securing employment for clients, developing and improving micro enterprises, fostering a culture of entrepreneurship and ultimately impacting on poverty alleviation and crime reduction.

The project specifically targets socially excluded, marginalised, unemployed and vulnerable NICRO clients. Our client base comprises offenders, former offenders and their family members; youth offenders and young people in conflict with law who have been diverted from the formal criminal justice system as well as survivors of crime and violence. The vast majority of beneficiaries are from African Black communities and approximately 50 to 60% are female.

The Economic Opportunities Project operates from one service point in Polokwane, which primarily services the Seshego, Mankweng, Namakgale, Ga-Matlala and Lulelani communities as well as areas located further afield, as needs arise.

Roll of Honour

The contribution that the organisation continues to make towards the creation of a safer South Africa is dependant on the generous and committed support of our government, the corporate sector, charitable trusts, foundations and other grant makers.

NICRO Limpopo pays tribute to and salutes all its donors, benefactors and supporters. We are especially indebted to:

The National Lottery Development Trust Fund
Standard Bank Foundation
The provincial government of Limpopo, the Department of Social Development, and all our governmental partners;
Themba Lesizwe
Metropolitan
Siyabhabha Trust

Would You Consider Helping Us to Make a Difference?

NICRO Limpopo’s seven permanent members of staff are ably assisted by seven volunteers who are located at the various courts. Volunteers greatly assist us to increase our capacity and render more widespread, effective services. In exchange for their vital support and contributions, volunteers are afforded the chance of attending workshops, training sessions and accessing self-development opportunities. If you are able to volunteer your services or expertise, please contact our provincial office and offer your assistance, or e-mail nicrolp@telkomsa.net.

Volunteers are needed:

To assist us with assessing clients, facilitating workshops and the writing of reports;
To facilitate the life-skills component of the Youth Empowerment Scheme and Journey Programmes for young offenders;
To mentor young people;
As business mentors for clients with newly established micro enterprises;
As counsellors and advisors at community victim support centres;
To provide witness and court support services;
To coordinate awareness campaigns and community information seminars;
As administrative, fundraising and office assistants; and
As event or special project organisers;

Alternatively, any donations in cash or kind, no matter how big or small, would be deeply appreciated. We are in urgent need of:

Computers,
Laptops,
A video projector,
A scanner,
Office furniture (desks, high back chairs, filing cabinets, lockable steel cabinets and a three-tier bookcase)

Success Stories – A Few of Many

Rachel Koka first joined NICRO as a volunteer in 1999, shortly after the provincial office was established. It is largely thanks to her unfailing commitment, dedication and expertise that our community victim support services continued uninterrupted for an extended period of time while the organisation was without a service deliverer. In December 2003 Rachel was appointed as NICRO Limpopo’s fulltime volunteer coordinator and assumed responsibility for the recruitment, selection and orientation of new volunteers, volunteer management and supervision, conducting weekly site visits and compiling progress reports for all our victim support services. She has also assumed responsibility for co-facilitating the Programme for Perpetrators of Domestic Violence.

In 2000 a client witnessed the brutal murder of her mother and sister at the hands of her brother-in-law. Initially this experience left her extremely traumatised and suffering from survivor’s guilt. Despite having encouraged her sister to leave the marriage she felt that she should have done more to prevent her death. Later her anger and fear intruded increasing on her life. It was not until she sought NICRO’s help that she was able to come to terms with her loss and traumatic experience. As a result of NICRO’s intervention, counselling and support she has moved from victim to victor and has been able to, once again, embrace life with enthusiasm and hope.