Improving the court experience for survivors 

The second area of focus has been on improving the experience of survivors who arrive at court. Many of them arrive at court for the first time and are uncertain about procedures. A counsellor has been appointed to assist survivors with forms and orientation, ensuring that support begins at the first point of contact. This effort is being expanded beyond the 100 days to embed survivor-centred practice in everyday court processes. The team is also exploring partnerships with NGOs to increase the number of counsellors available, recognising that one person cannot meet the scale of this need.

Making survivor support more visible 

Several innovations are being piloted to make survivor support more visible and actionable. A suggestion box has been installed and has already generated detailed responses from those who have engaged with the court. Changes informed by this feedback are being implemented immediately to improve service quality. A Survivor Reporting Map is also under development as a way to visualise and streamline reporting pathways.

Strengthening the courts capacity to respond appropriately 

Looking ahead, an information session is planned for the end of September to respond to issues raised in the survey. While awareness programmes are usually directed at the public, the Wynberg team has recognised the importance of also including staff. A survey originally designed for women has now been extended to men at the request of staff themselves. It measures awareness of GBVF, gender sensitivity, perceptions of the current court environment, and relationships between male and female staff. By addressing knowledge and attitudes within the institution, the court is strengthening its own internal capacity to respond.

These activities highlight that system improvement involves both technical measures, such as clearing data backlogs, and relational measures, such as ensuring survivors are guided through each step of the process. The court’s work illustrates how the justice system can be made more humane when administrative efficiency and survivor wellbeing are treated as interconnected priorities.