Victim Empowerment Programme in a Selected Municipality of the Eastern Cape, South Africa: Service Provider Perceptions

Abstract

An exploratory qualitative study was conducted to assess service providers' perceptions of the Victim Empowerment Programme (VEP) with a focus on VEP knowledge, management, communication, empowerment, utilization and accessibility of services in a selected district of the Eastern Cape of South Africa. In-depth telephone interviews were conducted with 33 service providers across different sectors using guiding questions. Recurrent themes were identified and coded; and findings were summarized accordingly. Results show that service providers perceived VEP as having several qualities including: accountability, empowerment, participation, non-discrimination, inter-sectoral collaboration, accessibility, and appropriateness. Results also show that participation in this programme leads to improved quality of life for its participants.