Rape seems to be a growing problem for SA

Statistics show that reported rape cases are on the rise and have been so for the last four years.

The reported sexual offences between April 2019 and March 2020 released by the South African Police Department on 31 July proves what many have been saying – South Africa has a very big rape problem.

According to the latest statistics, of the 53 293 sexual offences that were reported, a mind-blowing 93.9 per cent of these were for rape and sexual assault. In total, 42 289 rape cases were opened at police stations across the country over the last year, 706 more than the previous year. This gives SA a monthly average of around 3 524 rapes reported and a weekly average of around 881 reported rapes. The stats also show that rape has been on the rise since the 2016/2017 period when 39 828 rapes where reported.

The police define sexual offences as ‘sexual activities that a person has not consented to’ and refer to a broad range of sexual behaviours that make a victim feel uncomfortable, frightened or threatened. These include rape, sexual assault, attempted sexual offence and contact sexual offence.

There are very few places for South Africans to be safe from rape as the police also shared details of the occurrences of these rapes. According to the stats, 18 237 rapes took place at a private residence which includes the home of the perpetrator, victim, family or friends or neighbour. There were 7 940 rapes which took place at public places such as recreational centres, parks, beaches, parking areas and others. Educational institutions, liquor outlets and business premises were also venues for at least 340 rapes each over the year. During the year, 365 rapes were also reported within prisons.

The police shared some of the most shocking rape incidents that took place during the year. The North West town of Ikageng had an incident where the victim and a friend were lured to go smoke with members of a gang who ultimately took turns raping her in a bush. At least 20 males were involved in the incident. In KwaMashu, KwaZulu-Natal, eight males, including an acquaintance to the victim, took turns raping the woman in the toilet of a tavern. In a rape which took place in the Eastern Cape’s Lusikisiki, the victim was kidnapped from her church by someone familiar to her and raped several times by the acquaintance and six other males.

At least 82 reported murders over the last year also involved rape cases. There were at least 50 attempted murder cases where rape was involved as well as 401 cases of assault with intent to cause grievous bodily harm.