Beautiful dark curls, a personality that lights up any conversation, often the shortest person in the room and a strong belief in justice, Kaylynn Palm has become one of Action Society’s most recognisable and loved team members. Starting as an Action Centre coordinator, she now heads the Western Cape Action Centre. Her passion for justice sees her in courts across the Western Cape almost daily, and her dedication has led to some of our proudest and most hard-fought victories. Find out more about our tiny stature-big personality below.
Where are you from?
I grew up in Mitchells Plain in Cape Town.
How did you first get involved with Action Society?
After ten years in journalism, reporting on various topics, including crime and court, I moved to Action Society. I often reported on Action Society stories and got to know the organisation from the journalism side. When it was time to move on to a different space, I was delighted to join the Action Society team under Ian Cameron’s mentorship, with whom I still have an excellent working relationship.
How long have you been with Action Society?
I started as an Action Centre Coordinator in 2022 and became head of the Action Centre in the Western Cape in 2024.
What is your biggest passion?
My passion is telling stories and giving the voiceless a voice. Over the years, I’ve enjoyed speaking to people, engaging with them, and telling their stories. I started my journalistic journey in Grade 10 when I joined Bush Radio’s crew team, which gave me insight into the industry.
After three years of journalism studies at Cape Peninsula University of Technology and graduating with a Journalism diploma, I worked for a few years at Cape Community Newspapers, now known as Cape Africa Media. I then moved on to Eyewitness News, where I worked as a radio reporter, which I thoroughly enjoyed.
Working in newsrooms allowed me to move into different spaces and communities where I could tell stories, especially stories of people who never got to do so.
Now, in 2024, working at Action Society, I am fortunate enough to still connect with people. In a different role, I also tell their stories, and as a team, we now get to help and assist them.
What does a day at Action Society entail for you?
I attend various court cases weekly relating to gender-based violence/femicide and child murders, as well as cases related to elderly abuse in the Western Cape. I attend court, where we assist and support victims of crime throughout the prosecution process.
I report on the latest developments in various court cases and handle media enquiries at the Action Centre.
In my role, I also meet and interview family members of those who lost their loved ones or with the victims of violence to get a comprehensive understanding of what should be investigated, how we can assist and how we should report on the case.
I also work and engage with various communities and organisations and do Action Centre-related community projects.
What is your goal at Action Society?
My goal is to help and assist those affected by crime and help them get justice.
What did you learn during your time at Action Society?
I have learnt a lot working at Action Society, not only with the people I meet and deal with but also about crime in general. I continue to learn about the justice system and crime in South Africa.
What is the biggest obstacle to people getting justice?
I think crime is out of control in South Africa and that it is an enormous problem to eradicate completely. However, I do think it is possible to at least bring crime rates down, but it requires effort, dedication, political will, and, more importantly, everyone to work together. A big part of people not seeing justice is the criminal justice system itself; putting aside the policing issues and other related matters. If our justice system improves and works, more people will see justice, and to some extent, crime will be reduced.
