DA march over the increase of abuse directed to both women and children
Handing over the memorandum, Sithole started by appreciating members of the police who are devoted in doing their job
Scores of Democratic Alliance (DA) members convened a peaceful march to the provincial police headquarters to hand over a memorandum of demands in relation to the maximum protection of women and children in the province.
The march, which was led by DA Chairperson in the province, Ms Jane Sithole, started from Cameron Street near the Home Affairs offices and went straight to the police headquarters offices in Ferreira Street escorted by members of the SAPS.
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Handing over the memorandum, Sithole started by appreciating members of the police who are devoted in doing their job. She then made an appeal about the need of increasing female police members since it is easy for a woman to report a rape case to another woman compared to when reporting to a man. “We are requesting our commissioner that private rooms must be provided at all the police stations so that women and children can be free when reporting cases without fear of other people who may be around,” she said.
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Sithole also alluded that there is an urgent need for proper training of the members of the SAPS, in particular those dealing with domestic violence issues. “There is a huge gap between cases prosecuted and those being reported. Some of them are withdrawn, while some are left hanging due to lack of evidence and this is an issue of concern which needs to be dealt with immediatelt,” she explained.
Receiving the memorandum, the deputy commissioner, Mr Thulani Phahla said they will take into account the demands and work towards finding amicable solutions. “We will continue to work tirelessly as police and bring to book all the abusers of women and children in the province,” he said.
