A member of the South African Police Service must, if it is reasonably possible to do so—
(a) | explain to the complainant, or a person acting on behalf of the complainant,— |
(i) | that a member of the South African Police Service will render such assistance as circumstances may require, including assisting or making arrangements to find a suitable shelter and to obtain medical treatment; |
(ii) | their right to apply for a protection order to prohibit the respondent from committing further acts of domestic violence, even if no criminal complaint has been lodged, and the right to apply, simultaneously, for a domestic violence safety monitoring notice to ensure the complainant’s safety, health and well-being; |
(iii) | the complainant’s right to lodge a criminal complaint; and |
(iv) | the purpose of the notice; |
(b) | hand the notice referred to in regulation 2 to the complainant; |
(c) | read the notice to the complainant; |
(d) | direct the complainant to a website where the notice could be accessed; |
(e) | inquire from the complainant whether they— |
(i) | understand the contents of the notice; and |
(ii) | require further information regarding the remedies in terms of the Act and the right to lodge a criminal complaint; |
(f) | explain to the complainant, on request— |
(i) | any part of the notice which the complainant does not understand; and |
(ii) | their remedies in terms of the Act and the right to lodge a criminal complaint; |
(g) | inform the complainant that further information may be obtained from the clerk of the court, should questions of the complainant remain unanswered; and |
(h) | inform the complainant of the option of applying for a protection order and for a domestic violence safety monitoring notice online, and how the online portal may be accessed. |