With Toffee Beanz by their side, brave young witnesses can find a little comfort and courage amid the intimidating atmosphere of the courtroom.
Image: Supplied
It was a moment of barking success for South Africa's justice system when therapy dog Toffee Beanz made history by stepping into the Western Cape High Court on Wednesday to support a young witness during criminal court proceedings.
Canine therapist Toffee Beanz is a trained therapy dog from the Jelly Beanz Foundation and has marked what is believed to be the first instance in South Africa where a therapy dog has supported a child during court testimony.
Jelly Beanz Foundation - a South African non-profit organisation providing evidence-based therapeutic services to children and families, particularly in under-resourced communities - said this moment reflects a growing commitment to ensuring the justice system recognises and responds to the reality that children who testify are not only witnesses; they are children first.
The foundation said: “For children who have witnessed or been victims of serious crimes, the court process can be deeply intimidating and, at times, retraumatising. Children are required to recall and recount deeply distressing events - things no child should ever have to experience - in an unfamiliar, formal environment.
“This affects both their emotional well-being and their ability to testify effectively. The burden placed on child witnesses in these circumstances is profound. They carry not only the weight of what they have seen, but the weight of being asked to speak about it in a process that was not designed with children in mind.”
In a historic landbark moment, therapy dog Toffee Beanz steps into the Western Cape High Court to support a young witness, showcasing the power of compassion in the courtroom and marking a pivotal shift towards child-friendly justice in South Africa.
Image: Supplied
The foundation stressed that the need for this intervention is urgent.
“The context is stark: thousands of children enter the criminal justice system each year, either as victims of serious crimes or as witnesses. Child witnesses to violent crimes face a significant risk of trauma and long-term psychological harm.
“The court process itself can compound this harm when adequate support is not in place. Only a small percentage of reported cases in which children are key witnesses result in a conviction. These realities highlight the importance of supporting child witnesses in ways that reduce anxiety, improve emotional regulation, and enable them to give their best possible evidence,” the foundation said.
Toffee Beanz is a certified therapy dog that is part of the therapeutic team at Jelly Beanz. In therapeutic settings, Toffee Beanz works alongside professionals to support children who have experienced or witnessed trauma.
Image: Supplied
Toffee Beanz - as an integral part of the foundation's therapeutic team - works alongside professionals to support children who have experienced or witnessed trauma.
In the courtroom, Toffee Beanz supports the witness by providing a calming and grounding presence; helps reduce stress and emotional overwhelm; and supports the child's ability to communicate clearly and confidently.
“Internationally, the use of therapy and facility dogs in court settings has shown promising outcomes - reducing distress and improving the overall experience for child witnesses. South Africa now takes its first step in this direction,” the foundation said.
chevon.booysen@inl.co.za