Fighting the scourge of gender-based violence

The chairperson of the Portfolio Committee on Police, Tina Joemat-Pettersson, called for the senior management within the South African Police Service (SAPS) to urgently revise its strategies intended to deal with the many cases of gender-based violence (GBV).

“We are aware that the rights of women and children continue to be undermined as a result of acts of violence perpetrated against them,” said Joemat-Pettersson.

“Furthermore, we have noted with concern the shortage of rape kits at various police stations countrywide, and have called on the SAPS management to urgently deal with this matter and ensure the availability of these rape kits at all police stations.”

Joemat-Pettersson and her committee have also called on SAPS management to ensure that police stations are well equipped to deal with acts of violence against women and children at all times.

This included the expansion of the family violence, child protection and sexual offences units, to enhance the specialist investigative capacity to deal with GBV, including cases of rape, as well as the expansion of victim-friendly facilities at police stations countrywide to accommodate and assist victims.

“SAPS management should ensure that there are adequately trained police women to deal with GBV victims and be able to take samples with the rape kits,” she said.

“But above all, training modules for trainee police officers must include a component of GBV.”

According to Joemat-Pettersson, the Minister of police Bheki Cele made a few undertakings during his Budget-Vote speech around GBV, and it was now up to the National Commissioner, Lt Gen Khehla John Sitole and his leadership cohort to implement those promises.

“Strengthening strategies to deal with the scourge of GBV should be of high priority and establishing an environment conducive for women and children to report these cases at police stations,” Joemat-Pettersson said.

“We are cognisant of the fact that there is a need for a collaborative and multi-dimensional approach if we were to successfully end this scourge.

“This includes measures to reduce alcohol and substance abuse across the country, measures to grow the economy and decrease unemployment and poverty, as well as a societal commitment to monitor abuses against women in their communities.”

The committee, in performing its oversight duty, has committed to intensify its monitoring of the implementation of the Domestic Violence Act and the Sexual Offences Act by checking the support and assistance victims receive at all police stations.

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