GBV cases ‘taken lightly’ at Seshego Police Station
GBV victims claim that they were victimised and humiliated by Seshego police officers when they attempted to open cases of domestic violence.
POLOKWANE – Three women from Seshego Zone 1 claim they were victimised and humiliated by Seshego police officers who were reluctant to help them open cases of domestic violence.
The trio, who didn’t know each other prior and whose names are withheld due to the risk of victimisation, met at the police station and told BONUS they were laughed at and refused help by officers on duty.
Victim one, who was physically abused by her partner, says she was laughed at by officers when she told them she was scared her partner might kill her.
“I had explained to an officer that I urgently needed to open a case of domestic violence and that I would like to get my partner arrested or get a protection order against him. The officer told me I was wasting his time as he’s got more important cases to work on. It’s incompetence, they clearly don’t take anything seriously,” she said.
Victim two explained she also tried to open a case after she was physically abused in front of her child, but was turned away by the officers on duty.
“Domestic violence exists and many people don’t take it seriously. People assume it’s easy to just up and leave when you’re abused but it’s not that easy, especially when you have children with the perpetrator. When we go to the police as our last resort, they take everything lightly instead,” she said.
Victim three emphasised her disappointment in how the officers treat women who open domestic violence cases.
“I personally feel that the officers at the Seshego Police Station lack dedicated and trained personnel to attend to such matters and to give victims legally correct information and other support.”
The Seshego Police Station’s communications officer, Const Alley Maluleke says he is unaware of the claims and urged the trio to return to the station for the matter to be resolved. “We urge these women to return to us for an interview so that we can establish the shenanigans which might have been done by our officers,” he said. Maluleke added that there is a shelter within the police station for women who are victims of domestic abuse, gender-based violence and other life threatening incidents and should the trio still require assistance, they would receive help.
“The victim empowerment centre is available for victims to lodge for up to three days while they make alternative living arrangements away from perpetrators,” he concluded.
