Centre celebrates three years of helping victims

TSome of the cases I deal with are financial abuse of elderly people

he Siyakha Victim Support Centre, a nonprofit organisation based at the Kenton Police Station, recently celebrated its third year of community service for the elderly and abused.

Founder Mike Konaha’s community involvement started in 1997 when he was a police reservist.

“I found myself sorting out a lot of families’ problems and that led me to the parents: I then started to speak to parents about [not] neglecting their children.”

Konaha later went to work in Gqeberha (then Port Elizabeth), and when he returned to Kenton, joined the Community Policing Forum (CPF).

Once again, Konaha found himself supporting survivors of violence and abuse.

“That’s when I started the victim support centre that deals with gender-based violence [GBV], drugs and substance abuse.

“I have two caregivers who help me,” he said.

When it comes to GBV or substance abuse, Konaha refers victims to social workers.

“Some of the cases I deal with are financial abuse of elderly people,” Konaha said.

“So I sit down with families and talk, and together with them we find solutions so that older people have the right kind of living environment.”

The Siyakha Victim Support Centre was established in 2019 and registered in October that year.

“It’s not funded and it ’ s not about money but to help the community, regardless of politics, race or gender.

“We need funds and transport to do more for the community, especially on the farms,” Konaha said.

Ekuphumleni, Marselle, Bushman’s River, Klipfontein and farms in the area are also on Siyakha’s radar. “We visit more than 50

homes a month and we use additional funds to pay care volunteers and for transport to visit farms,” he said.

The wooden facility at the Kenton Police Station that houses the organisation was donated by Rotary Kenton.

Pictures: SUPPLIED THANK YOU: Celebrating the Siyakha Victim Support Centre's three years of supporting the community are SPAR's Honey Magani, centre founder Mike Konaha, caregiver Nonkosazana Dyakala, SPAR's Dawie Cannon, Ndlambe Victim Empowerment Programme chairperson George Petzer and Zandile Ngangqu.

COMMUNITY SUPPORT: Siyakha Victim Support Centre coordinator Mike Konaha, left, with Kenton Police Station Commander, Captain Tommie Parkinson. The centre is housed in a wooden facility, donated by Rotary Kenton, at the police station.