As an Action Centre coordinator, Colleen Wolmarans plays an essential role in helping victims find justice. She faces overwhelming evil on an almost daily basis without flinching, the type of evil that would send the average person running away with their metaphorical tail between their legs.
In the dilapidated courts of South Africa, Colleen sits for hours on hard wooden benches with women and children who have been victims of unspeakable cruelty and malice. She has shown unwavering support for the victims Action Society supports and refuses to be disheartened by disappointments.
With her early career working in some capacity alongside the South African police’s detective branch in 2009, Colleen is all too familiar with the darker aspects of South African society. The veneer of everyday life was lifted to reveal fraud and unscrupulousness, which has equipped her to detect lies and deceit like a seasoned professional with her piercing blue gaze.
After moving to Paarl and through her acquaintance with Ian Cameron (the previous Action Society Director for Community Safety), who understood her need to help victims of abuse, Colleen joined Action Society as a volunteer in early 2023.
“In my capacity at Action Society, I go to the courts daily. I speak with the state prosecutors and the court directors, among others. I try to follow up on the cases with all the latest information and new dates. More importantly, I try to ensure the criminals don’t try to cheat the system and that victims receive justice.”
Colleen believes everyone has a calling in life, and her calling, shaped by her own experience, is to render aid and justice to abused women and children. Her Christian faith is vital to her, and God has been her pillar of strength through the most trying phases of her life.
“Even if I can only help one woman or child out of dozens, I feel like I have won and stayed true to my calling. Victims of abuse are often too scared or ashamed of their experiences, but if they know there are people like us that devote their lives to this, then it can make that leap easier for them.”
Patience is one of the greatest lessons she has learnt during her time with Action Society. In her own words, Colleen describes herself as someone who does not have a lot of patience but had to learn and develop that part of herself as the wheels of justice churn very slowly.
“Most people don’t understand how the court systems work and why there are always so many delays, so they become frustrated and impatient. I felt the same until I became accustomed to it.”
Although Colleen shares tons of empathy with the victims of abuse, she has had to learn not to become too emotional while attending court proceedings or conversing with victims.
“You need to be a strong person for them, and you can’t allow yourself to break down in front of them. You need to show them that someone strong is willing to fight for them.”
Colleen is proudly a recovered victim of abuse herself and has used that passion to help others who went through similar abuse in their lives. She has channelled that trauma into a fighting spirit to become a voice for the voiceless.
“I consider myself extremely fortunate to work for Action Society.” Through her journey, she has discovered an inner strength she didn’t know she possessed, and she shares that strength with other people who are not as strong or who have not yet found that strength in themselves.”
Moreover, Colleen’s time at Action Society has deeply humbled her and showed her how much she has to be grateful for.
“There are people in this country who live in situations many of us can’t even imagine. We can’t imagine the poverty and desperation so many of our fellow South Africans find themselves in. This ignites my passion to help those who can’t do it for themselves.”
Although she has seen the darkest parts of humanity, Colleen still believes there is good in most people. We should never forget that and not allow ourselves to be consumed by the violence and hatred we see in the cases we deal with.
Colleen Wolmarans truly personifies Action Society’s mantra of Victim to Victor!
