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Excellence Award
Personally selected by the Chair of the Judging Panel, the Rt Hon Sir Ninian Stephen
Boet du Plessis
Middelburg Mine, Mpumalanga, South Africa
Boet du Plessis is Human Resources Superintendent at Middelburg Mine. Over the last four years, outside of his normal work duties, he has been actively involved in helping disadvantaged people in the local communities. He presently runs 15 projects focused on helping physically and mentally disabled people and destitute groups.
One of the community projects established by Boet is the Witbank Victim Support Centre’s ‘House of Safety’. Through his involvement in the communities, he identified the need to accommodate abused women and children in a safe facility while investigations and court cases associated with their plight were being conducted.
Following submissions from Boet, Middelburg Mine provided a Company house in Witbank to be used as the ‘House of Safety’. Not only was Boet instrumental in securing the house, he also collected funds for furnishings, appliances and a security system; obtained donations of household goods; and arranged for a trained local woman to move in as ‘house mother’ to care for the women and children.
Boet negotiated with local magistrates, prosecutors and the South African Police Services to arrange the necessary judicial assistance and ensure the house would be viable. It is so highly regarded by the Police Services, they are encouraging other communities across the country to replicate the concept. They have made a video of the house to showcase the idea and illustrate how a safe house should be managed.
The Witbank Victim Support Centre safe house was officially opened in April 2002. To the end of March 2003, six adults and 64 children had been accommodated. Victims typically reside in the house for an average of 21 days, pending police investigations, court hearings and foster home placements.
As well as being involved in his other community activities, Boet visits the ‘House of Safety’ up to three times a week and continues to organise funding to run and maintain the house and provide food, clothing and toys for the residents.
