• News
  • Sport
  • TV
  • Radio
  • Education
  • TV Licences
  • Contact Us
  • SOUTH AFRICA
  • POLITICS
  • BUSINESS
  • SPORT
  • AFRICA
  • WORLD
  • FEATURES
  • OPINION
No Result
View All Result
1
Home South Africa

Rape of eight in Krugersdorp shines spotlight on increasing GBV cases in SA

1 August 2022, 3:55 PM  |
Tshepo Phagane Tshepo Phagane |  @SABCNews
Demonstrators hold placards with messages against rape.

Demonstrators hold placards with messages against rape.

Image: Reuters

Demonstrators hold placards with messages against rape.

The rape of eight women at a mine dump in Krugersdorp on Gauteng’s West rand last week has once against shined the spotlight on the increasing incidents of gender-based violence in the country. The incident has also brought to the fore challenges facing the South African Police Service relating to resources and personnel which have been found to contribute to the ineffective response of the police to crime.

The Commission on Gender Equality conducted an oversight visit to almost 70 police stations across the country to assess some of the mechanisms they have put in place to deal with issues relating to gender-based violence.

But what they found highlighted the enormous challenges and pressures that police work under. Gauteng for instance, which is the smallest and yet densely populated province, had a total of 143 police stations servicing a population of almost 16 million people.

“One police station in Gauteng services 109 000 people. KwaZulu-Natal, one station services 62 500 (people). It does look like, in terms of service delivery there are nodes where there are extreme pressure points for SAPS. We are also aware that recently SAPS announced that they are building new stations. Whether it will be sufficient to change this pressure, that is the question,” says the acting chairperson of the Commission on Gender Equality Dr. Nthabiseng Moleko.

Crime in Krugersdorp

The community of Westvillage near Krugersdorp where the rapes happened at an abandoned mine dump – has publicly highlighted the fear they live under due to the high rate of crime in the area and how they’ve reported this on numerous occasions to the police without success. The Independent Policing Union of South Africa says police are not proactive but reactive in their approach to dealing with crime.

“That is as a result of the pressure that is mounting on the police officials who are not well capacitated when it comes to resources and police officers whose numbers have also dwindled. So, these things have made us make this call. And by doing an audit report we will be able to know exactly which police station is not well resourced in terms of the resource allocation guide,” says the union’s Mpho Kwinika.

Shortage of resources

The Commission on Gender Equality says across the stations they went to throughout the country there was a general shortage of vehicles. Moleko says there are also massive delays in the receiving results of DNA samples from laboratories. And in rape cases, this could result in delays in the prosecution of the perpetrators.

Moleko says in the police stations they visited there were no resources to do programmes to prevent violent crimes.

“There is a dearth of programmes that are preventative, we are always responding. Even if we caught 10 000 rapists, are there spaces in the prisons, are there spaces in our courts? We have got to deal with this issue of preventing.”

Programmes to deal with crime 

Police say there are mechanisms in place to deal with crime including illegal miners who are alleged to be responsible for the rapes of the women. National Police commissioner Fanie Masemola addressed the media in Pretoria.

“We have established teams in provinces that have got mines that in Free State, Northern Cape, North West, Gauteng, Limpopo, and Mpumalanga. And there have been operations even two weeks ago, there was an operation that netted more than 200 Zama Zamas.”

But chairperson of the Gauteng Community Safety oversight committee in the Gauteng Legislature Alphina Ndlovana says the provincial police’s strategy to deal with Zama Zamas is lacking and needs improving.

“Their strategy is not convincing, we’ve requested them to come up with a better strategy which will be able to assist the communities that are residing next to the Zama Zamas.”

It is clear that a lot more resources, manpower, and proactive crime prevention strategies will be needed to deal with the scourge of gender-based crime and illegal mining.

More than 80 suspects have been arrested in terms of the rapes in the area: 

Share article
Tags: GBVKrugersdorpCrime
Previous Post

VIDEO: Energy Crisis Committee briefs the media on long-term energy supply

Next Post

Macroeconomic policy was not covered at ANC conference: Analysts

Related Posts

[File Image] National Commissioner of the South African Police Service, General Sehlahle Fannie Masemola during the release of quarterly crime statistics.

Over 200 sentenced to life for GBV, says Masemola

9 June 2023, 9:15 PM
A customer arrives at the Post Office in Pimville, Soweto.

Government says it will fight to ensure the survival of the Post Office

9 June 2023, 8:45 PM
Picture of a laboratory

Treatment of cancer receives R600 mln boost with launch of Isotope facility

9 June 2023, 8:17 PM
Tshwane's new mayor, Cilliers Brink (Right).

‘Competent people to be recruited to resolve challenge in Hammanskraal’

9 June 2023, 6:45 PM
A tap with running water.

Constrained Rand Water’s system leaves some Joburg reservoirs, water towers empty

9 June 2023, 6:21 PM
DA KZN Leadership at the Greenwood Park Hall where they are visiting flood victims placed at this hall following the April floods to ascertain the living conditions and government intervention.

KZN flood victims complain about lack of privacy at emergency shelters

9 June 2023, 5:43 PM
Next Post
ANC President Cyril Ramaphosa seen at the policy conference.

Macroeconomic policy was not covered at ANC conference: Analysts

Most Viewed

  • 24hrs
  • Week
  • Month
  • Decision on Zimbabwean Exemption Permits causing confusion: TASA
  • [Editorial Update] Unisa suspends registrar for various breaches of policy
  • Orlando Pirates player Thembinkosi Lorch found guilty of assault
  • Slain teen Palesa Malatji’s family calls for death sentence to be reinstated
  • Female student stabbed to death at NMU residence
  • Dr Nandipha’s looks during court appearances under the spotlight
  • Deadline for Zimbabwean Exemption Permits draws near
  • Reserve Bank expected to increase repo rate on Thursday
  • Zimbabwe receives 18 helicopters from Russian Federation
  • Eastern Cape ActionSA raises eyebrows over qualifications of senior officials
  • Decision on Zimbabwean Exemption Permits causing confusion: TASA
  • Mabuyane amends court application to interdict SIU from continuing investigation
  • South Africa needs to create new cities to address overpopulation: Kubayi
  • Chitando pushes for permanent residency for ZEP holders
  • Marlene van Staden was a dedicated servant of the people: Steenhuisen

LATEST

[File Image] National Commissioner of the South African Police Service, General Sehlahle Fannie Masemola during the release of quarterly crime statistics.
  • South Africa

Over 200 sentenced to life for GBV, says Masemola


A person holds up their passport showing their visa
  • Business

Calls for more action to ease visa regulations between SA, France


A customer arrives at the Post Office in Pimville, Soweto.
  • South Africa

Government says it will fight to ensure the survival of the Post Office


Zimbabwean flag
  • Africa

Professor Mutambara says African continent needs new leadership


Picture of a laboratory
  • South Africa

Treatment of cancer receives R600 mln boost with launch of Isotope facility


Suspended Public Protector Busisiwe Mkhwebane
  • Politics

S194 Inquiry changes course, wants evidence in writing


Weather

  • About the SABC
  • Contact Us
  • Jobs
  • Advertise
  • Disclaimer
  • Site Map

SABC © 2023

No Result
View All Result
  • SOUTH AFRICA
  • POLITICS
  • BUSINESS
  • SPORT
  • AFRICA
  • WORLD
  • FEATURES
  • OPINION

© 2023

Previous VIDEO: Energy Crisis Committee briefs the media on long-term energy supply
Next Macroeconomic policy was not covered at ANC conference: Analysts