THE DA has slammed the lack of victim centres at 43 police stations in the Eastern Cape for people who fall prey to violence and abuse.
In a statement by DA MPL Bobby Stevenson today, he said in many towns such centres were the only port of call for victims in need of private. “A distressed and traumatised woman or child can not be expected to talk about rape in a charge office full of people.”
In a reply to a query by Stevenson, Safety and Liaison MEC Weziwe Tikana indicated that 43 stations were without such centres including Dordrecht, Mount Fletcher, Fort Beaufort, Thornhill, Burgersdorp, Despatch, Healdtown, Glen Grey, Cala, Matatiele, Jamestown, Tsomo and Kleinbulhoek.
She indicated that all the stations did, however, have domestic violence coordinators and that all members had been trained.
Stevenson said crimes against women and children needed to receive greater priority by the SAPS with only a minority of perpetrators facing the consequences of their actions.
“Out of the total of 12 896 protection order cases reported over the last three financial years, 9 334 arrests had been made and went to court, but only 1 934 led to successful prosecution – 689 cases out of 3 215 in 2015/16, 841 out of 4 205 in 2016/17 and 404 out of the total of 1 914 court cases so far in 2017/18.
With this year’s 16 Day of Activism theme “Count me in: Together moving a non-violent South Africa forward”, the campaign is a chance for all communities to reflect on the change that is needed in order for our province to prosper.”
He said he had since written to Tikana, urging the establishment of victim centres at all stations in the Eastern Cape.
