Gauteng government to fight gender violence
Gauteng government to fight gender violence
Gauteng Premier, David Makhura, recently met with the senior management of the South African Police Services and the MEC for Community Safety, Sizakele Nkosi-Malobane.
The purpose of the meeting was to discuss plans to fight crime in the province, especially the recent scourge of violence against women and children.
The meeting noted that daily operational statistics indicate an increase in reported cases of domestic violence and abduction of young girls. There has also been a notable trend of brutality in these crimes.
In the meeting, it was agreed that the full implementation of and compliance with the Domestic Violence Act 116 of 1998, the Criminal Law (Sexual offences and related matters) Act 23 of 2007 and the Prevention and Combating of Trafficking in Persons Act 7 of 2013 was necessary to end violence against women and children.
It was also noted that the withdrawal of a domestic violence case should only be done by a magistrate, similar to the way in which withdrawal of a sexual offences case is handled.
Some of the plans that the provincial government will undertake to curb the escalation of violence against women include establishing a toll-free line for whistle-blowing.
Coordination in all spheres of government and participation in the Rapid Response Task Team was cited as a key element.
Going forward, the meeting agreed that there would be a strong visibility of trained victim supporters with clearly marked clothing at all Gauteng police stations. The victim supporters will provide the necessary privacy to allow women to report their cases in a free environment.
The police have made a commitment to re-establish specialised units such as the Murder and Robbery and Narcotics units and strengthen the Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offences and Taxi Task Teams. Other interventions include asylum seekers registering and reporting at police stations.
Premier Makhura said the provincial government would ensure that all regions in the province have sexual offences courts as well as municipal courts to deal with by-laws.
“We will also engage with Crime Intelligence to ensure that we strengthen the evidence-based crime investigation and prosecution process.
The brutality and cruelty meted out to women is unacceptable and has no place in our province,” said Makhura.
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