NPO Reg. No. 084976

Provide primary and secondary victims of accidents, crimes and natural disasters a realistic structure from where they can limit their perception of threat by giving them useful and accurate information relevant to their crisis, including physical help and moral support. Such assistance, help and support specifically applies to, but is not limited to the following areas of operation:

*    On-scene support for primary and secondary victims.

*    Referring primary and secondary victims for de-briefing where needed.

*    Referring primary and secondary victims for professional counseling where needed.

*    Assistance at government mortuaries for secondary victims.

*    Supporting and co-operating fully with all law enforcement and emergency services personnel.

*    Working together and co-existing with all other providers of similar services.

Crisis Interveners are experienced members of the community and operate as volunteers.

The organization depends on donations from the community to cover costs for cell phones, fuel and uniforms for its responding members. 

Any donations are most welcome.

Account name:        The Organised Crisis Intervention Unit

Bank:                     Standard Bank

Account Number:    043356680

Branch Code:          013042

The law states that an investigation must take place when someone dies an unnatural death.

The following are considered to be unnatural deaths:

*    Accidental Death (road accident; work; home; etc.)

*    Murder

*    Suicide

*    Sudden Infant Death Syndrome ("Cot Death")

*    Pediatric Death (<16 Years Old)

*    Suspicious Circumstances

*    A death occurring within 24 hours after any medical procedure

When a death takes place and it falls into one of the categories mentioned above, the body must be taken to the nearest Government Mortuary. The SAPS will collect the body and remove it to this venue. The next working day, the deceased must be positively identified by a family member or close friend. This cannot occur over weekends or on public holidays. The person identifying the deceased must take the following documents to the mortuary's charge office:

*    Identifiers' Identity Document or Passport

*    Deceased's Identity Document or Passport

*    Information including:

Names of the Deceased

Date and Time of the Death

Location of Death

Event (motor accident, murder, suicide, etc.)

The family member or friend will be directed to the viewing room from which they will identify the deceased. The officer will then issue the deceased's "body number" to the family member or friend. The State Pathologist will conduct an investigation into the cause of death. Depending upon the agencies involved (Aircraft Accidents or CAA) this might take 2 to 3 working days after the mortuary has received the body. Should the family member or friend identify the deceased prior to this pathology taking place, they need to be aware that the condition of the loved one cannot be altered until the doctor has attended to them. The mortuary can, upon request and under certain circumstances accommodate specific religious groups needs (e.g. Muslim, Jewish and Hindu) however, this is situation and resources bound.

After the deceased has been identified and the paperwork completed, Funeral Directors should be contacted. These professionals will liaise with the mortuary and remove the deceased after the pathologist has completed any necessary medical investigation. The "body number" must be provided to the undertakers who make the memorial or funeral arrangements. The deceased's identity documents, any insurance or funeral policies held by the deceased, and the identifying family members' identity document will also be needed at this meeting.

Documentation issued by the mortuary will also be required by the Department of Home Affairs for the issue of a death certificate and financial institutions for the closure of policies and accounts. The spouse of the deceased must be aware that many joint accounts or policies are "frozen" by these institutions when the partner or spouse passes away. Identification takes place at the Government Mortuary from 10:00 - 15:00 on weekdays. It is also important to take note that the circumstances at the mortuary can be very frustrating and sometimes traumatic. We have been through this process many times and offer our services, free of charge, to take you to the Government Mortuary and assist you physically and emotionally with this very trying procedure. Should you wish to make use of our services please do not hesitate to contact us.

The body should be removed from the Government Mortuary without delay. The choice of a funeral director is of the utmost importance as the level of sensitivity needed from the funeral director is much more intense in the case of an unnatural death. Because of the post mortem, the preparation and the presentation of the body is very much different than that of a person dying of natural causes. Please make sure that the mortician is capable of performing such a task and choose your funeral director with special care. A commercially orientated funeral director might not be the correct choice as they are not always receptive towards the whole family in these circumstances.

10 Lambert St. Germiston                      Cemetery Rd, Springs

Tel. (011) 871-5352                                Tel. (011) 811 9640

cnr, Hospital & Esselen Rd, Hillbrow       55 Schoeman Str, Heidelberg

Tel. (011) 489 1634                               Tel. (016) 341 9960

Closed to the public on weekends and public holidays

A natural death occurs when someone passes away from either illness, disease or age. A paramedic or medical practitioner have to issue a declaration of death. The SAPS is not involved in this procedure. The body of the deceased will be removed by a funeral director and cared for at their facility. It is very important to note that it is always the choice of the family as to which funeral director they wish to do the service regardless whether another funeral director removed the deceased's body. There is a code of conduct between funeral directors that it stays the choice of the family and costs are settled between themselves for services rendered. This is specifically applicable to circumstances where a loved one passes on at a hospital or old age home because some of these institutions have agreements with funeral directors to assist with the removal of a deceased ONLY because they do not have a mortuary. With natural deaths it is important for the deceased to have had an attending medical practitioner in the time leading up to the death such as a house or family doctor. This medical practitioner will be required to issue documentation which is needed to obtain a death certificate. If not, there is still the option of a private post mortem that will be conducted by an approved pathologist at the facility of the funeral director but this procedure will be at the cost of the next of kin. The pathologist performing the post mortem will issue all necessary documentation to obtain the death certificate.

Murder, suicide, armed robberies, hi-jackings, accidents, unnatural deaths or scenes where government property has been damaged will be regarded as a crime scene.

The South African Police Services have jurisdiction on crime scenes.

The area of the crime will be prohibited to the public including all family members, friends and bystanders. The area will be cordoned off and it is important not to access this area as it may contaminate any evidence on the scene. A detective will be called to the scene who will conduct an investigation which might include photographs, fingerprints and statements by all parties involved in the incident including any witnesses. The detective is the primary person in charge of the scene. He might also request a forensic investigator to investigate the scene. No witness may leave the scene until permission is granted by the detective. It is of the utmost importance to give ACCURATE AND COMPLETE information for statements as this can influence the conviction of criminals. These are standard procedures and DO NOT imply that fowl play is expected. A case number will be issued the following day and can be obtained from the local area Police Station.

The Metro Police Department and or South African Police Services have jurisdiction on all vehicle accidents. 

No vehicle can be moved when there are injuries, damages to property or a fatality. An investigating officer from the Accident Bureau will be called to the scene and will conduct an investigation. He will take measurements and photos. A Metro Police officer completes an accident report form consisting of details of persons involved in the accident including witnesses. After a few days photo's of the accident can be viewed at the Accident Bureau, investigating the accident. In the case of further investigation the South African Police Services will contact and obtain statements from persons involved within a few days of the accident. An inventory of personal belongings in the vehicles and on the person of victims will be compiled by a crisis intervener checked and confirmed with the highest ranking officer on the scene of the accident. The Metro or South African Police service will pound the vehicle/s in an approved pound if further investigation is needed on the vehicle/s and it will be released to the owner or next of kin when the investigation is complete. A case number will be issued the following day and can be obtained from the local area Accident Bureau or Police Station.  

Trauma can be decrypted as circumstances, normally outside your own control, which overthrows your normal way of living. After trauma caused by a crisis you will probably never be able to look at your world the same way you looked at it yesterday. Within this truth and parameter it will be experienced that the worst of happenings can happen with everyone in life. After the crisis, people can experience vast difficulties to cope with the daily responsibilities of life. It is common to have a dramatic impact on our daily routine and general wellbeing. If you are forced to deal with the reality of a crisis and it feels as if you are trapped in darkness without any hope of recovery, you have the privilege to know that a team of highly skilled and dedicated counselors stand ready to take your hand and guide you through this ordeal.

Referrals for professional counseling is directed to Dr. Barbara Wade of the Olive Branch Trauma Center. The motto of the Olive Branch is triumph over life's difficulties. Dr. Barbara Wade, aims to help you make positive changes during challenging times in your life through professional therapeutic counseling in her practice. She has a passion to see lasting growth in people's lives and strives for a deep understanding of those with whom she works. The therapy she offers is based on the most up to date research in the field of trauma.

Tel: 011 849 7473 / 072 122 4766

37 Wordsworth Road, Farrarmere, Benoni

The Sexual Assault Clinic helps any child under the age of 12 years who has fallen victim to sexual and/or physical assault. They are a medico-legal clinic, perform medical examinations, and complete police and court documentation. They also refer children to trusted further social services when assessments are required by either the Registered Nurse or the judicial services.

Tel: 011 420 0523

25 Railway Avenue, Benoni West

Stolen Bank Cards
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Stolen cellphones		Tracking
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Alberton	011 907 1568	Benoni	011 894 2814
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Childline	0800 05 5555
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