Diocesan Safeguarding

Victim &
Survivor
Support

Diocese of False Bay — walking with those who have been harmed

You are believed.
What happened to you was not your fault.
You are not alone.
You have the right to be heard.
Get Support Now For Clergy & Leaders
Emergency & Immediate Help

If you need help right now

SAPS — 10111If you are in immediate danger
GBV Command Centre — 0800 428 428Free, 24 hours, 7 days. Gender-based violence support.
Childline South Africa — 116Free, 24-hour helpline for children and youth
SADAG — 0800 567 567Mental health and crisis support, toll-free

To speak with the Diocese of False Bay confidentially about harm experienced in a church context, contact us directly. Your safety and dignity are our priority.

Contact the Diocese
A Message for Survivors
You are believed.
You matter.
You have rights.
You are not alone.
It was not your fault.

If you have experienced abuse, exploitation, harassment, or any other form of harm — whether recently or in the past, whether by a church leader, volunteer, or fellow member — the Diocese of False Bay wants to hear from you. Coming forward takes courage. We will take what you say seriously.

Our Approach

Responding well to every
victim and survivor

The Diocese of False Bay is committed to the framework set out in the Church of England's Responding Well to Victims and Survivors of Abuse — eight principles for how a church should respond when someone discloses harm.

01
Listen carefully and without judgment
When someone discloses harm, the first task is to listen — fully, attentively, and without interrupting, challenging, or expressing disbelief. Survivors need to know they have been heard before anything else can happen.
02
Believe and take seriously
False allegations of abuse are rare. The appropriate default response is to believe what is being said, and to take it seriously. Those who disclose are often doing so at great personal cost — they deserve to be believed unless there is clear evidence to the contrary.
03
Prioritise the survivor's safety and wellbeing
The safety, wellbeing, and wishes of the victim or survivor must come first — before institutional reputation, before the welfare of the person accused, and before any other consideration. This is a non-negotiable principle.
04
Maintain appropriate confidentiality
Information shared by a survivor must be handled with the greatest care. It should only be shared with those who have a specific need to know. However, confidentiality can never be absolute where there is a risk of ongoing harm to a child or vulnerable adult.
05
Provide a clear pathway forward
Survivors need to know what happens next — who will be told, what action will be taken, and when. Uncertainty and silence are damaging. The Diocese commits to communicating clearly and honestly with survivors about the process.
06
Be honest about what the Church can and cannot do
The Church is not a police force or a court. Some matters must be referred to statutory authorities. The Diocese will always be transparent about what it can investigate internally and what requires reporting to SAPS, social services, or other bodies.
07
Support survivors for the long term
Recovery from abuse is rarely quick. The Diocese commits to remaining in contact with survivors beyond the initial disclosure — not abandoning them once an immediate response has been given, and providing ongoing spiritual, pastoral, and practical support.
08
Learn and improve
Every case teaches us something. The Diocese is committed to regular review of how survivor support processes work, to receiving feedback from survivors themselves, and to ongoing training and improvement of all who work in this area.

These principles are from the Church of England's Responding Well to Victims and Survivors of Abuse e-manual. Read the full framework at churchofengland.org

The Process

What happens when
you come forward

Coming forward is one of the hardest things a survivor can do. Here is what you can expect from the Diocese of False Bay when you do.

1
You make contact
You can contact the Diocese directly by phone or email, speak to your parish priest, or approach any member of the Diocesan leadership. You can do this in person, in writing, or through a trusted third party — whatever feels safest for you.
2
You are heard
A trained Diocesan safeguarding person will listen to what you have to say — carefully, without judgment, and without interrupting. You will not be asked to repeat yourself unnecessarily. You will not be questioned as if you are on trial.
3
Your immediate safety is assessed
Where there is any risk of immediate or ongoing harm — to you or to others — the Diocese will act promptly. This may include immediate referral to SAPS, social services, or other statutory bodies. Your consent will be sought wherever possible, though some reporting obligations are mandatory under South African law.
4
You are told what happens next
The Diocese will tell you clearly what it intends to do, who it will need to inform, and what the timeline looks like. You will have a named person to contact with questions. You will not be left in silence wondering what is happening.
5
An investigation or referral takes place
Depending on the nature of the allegation, this may involve an internal Diocesan inquiry, referral to the Safe Church process, notification to ACSA, referral to SAPS, or a combination. The Diocese's Safe Church Initiative governs internal processes.
6
Ongoing pastoral support is provided
The process does not end with an investigation. The Diocese is committed to remaining present with survivors — through pastoral care, spiritual accompaniment, and connection to professional counselling or support services for as long as is needed.
Our Commitments

What the Diocese of False Bay commits to

These are not aspirations — they are requirements. Every member of Diocesan leadership and every parish priest is accountable to them.

Zero Tolerance for Abuse
There is no category of person — no seniority of office, no length of service, no personal relationship — that places anyone above accountability. Abuse by a bishop will be treated the same as abuse by any other person.
Survivor-Centred Practice
The survivor's needs, wishes, and wellbeing will drive every decision. The Diocese will not prioritise institutional reputation, the career of an accused person, or the avoidance of scandal over the welfare of those who have been harmed.
An Open Door
There is no time limit on coming forward. Harm that happened decades ago is as real as harm that happened yesterday. Survivors are welcome to come forward at any time, and they will be received with the same seriousness and care.
Transparency with Survivors
Where possible, survivors will be kept informed about what is happening with their case. If there are constraints on what can be shared, the Diocese will explain why — honestly, without hiding behind institutional procedures.
Trained and Accountable People
All clergy and key lay leaders receive training in responding to disclosures. Diocesan safeguarding personnel hold recognised qualifications. The Diocese participates in regular external review of its safeguarding practice through ACSA.
Pastoral and Spiritual Accompaniment
The Church has a particular responsibility to offer spiritual support alongside practical help. Survivors will be offered access to a trained spiritual companion — someone separate from the investigation process — if they wish.
For Parish Clergy & Leaders

When someone discloses
to you

Every parish priest and lay leader needs to know what to do if someone discloses abuse or harm. These are the most important things to know.

Your immediate responsibilities

Listen without judgment. Do not challenge, minimise, or express disbelief. Do not ask probing questions that could be seen as interrogation or that might compromise a later investigation. Simply listen, affirm that you have heard, and thank the person for telling you.

Do not promise confidentiality. You must be honest that you have certain reporting obligations, and that you cannot promise to keep what they tell you entirely private — especially if there is ongoing risk to a child or vulnerable adult.

Do not investigate yourself. Your role is to receive the disclosure, ensure the person is safe, and refer immediately to the Diocesan safeguarding process. You are not a police officer or a counsellor. The worst thing you can do is try to resolve the matter yourself without telling anyone.

Report without delay. Contact the Diocesan office and the Safe Church Initiative immediately. Under the Children's Act 38 of 2005, any person who suspects abuse of a child has a legal duty to report. Do not wait. Do not ask for advice before reporting. Report first.

For full guidance, see the Safe Church Initiative page and the Church of England's Responding Well framework.

Safe Church Initiative Contact Diocesan Office Church of England Framework
"

A bruised reed he will not break, and a smouldering wick he will not snuff out.

Isaiah 42:3
Further Resources

Support beyond
the Diocese

These organisations provide specialised support for survivors of abuse, gender-based violence, and trauma.

GBV Command Centre
The South African government's 24-hour toll-free helpline for gender-based violence. Free, confidential, multilingual. Provides immediate support and referrals to local services.
0800 428 428 (Free, 24/7)
Childline South Africa
Free 24-hour helpline for children, young people, and adults concerned about the safety of a child. Counselling, crisis intervention, and referral to social services.
Call 116 (Free, 24/7)
Church of England — Responding Well
The most comprehensive Anglican framework for responding to victims and survivors of abuse, used as the basis for the Diocese of False Bay's own approach. Available online in full.
Read the Framework