Latest news with #GBVF-related
The Citizen
4 days ago
- The Citizen
Police intensify efforts to combat GBV and secure convictions nationwide
The police are escalating their fight against gender-based violence and femicide (GBVF) with targeted operations and ongoing investigations across the country. In the past week alone, law enforcement arrested 100 suspects for rape and 16 for attempted rape. This sweeping action forms part of a 90-day blitz designed to bring perpetrators to justice and reinforce public confidence in the police. ALSO READ: Edenvale entities take stand against GBV In a media statement, it was reported that Gauteng recorded the highest number of arrests, with additional suspects tracked down in other provinces. The police also successfully apprehended 67 wanted rape suspects through various tracing operations. These arrests reflect the police's unwavering commitment to fighting GBVF, protecting vulnerable communities, and ensuring justice for survivors. Alongside these arrests, the police continue to secure key convictions in GBVF-related cases through the work of the Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offences (FCS) Unit. In one of the most severe sentences to date, the Bloemfontein Regional Court handed down life imprisonment to a 45-year-old man found guilty of multiple counts of rape involving a minor. The crimes were committed in October 2023. Another significant conviction was secured in Sasolburg, where 30-year-old Tumelo Christian Khotha was sentenced to 26 years in prison for the rape and assault of a 17-year-old girl in March 2022. His sentence followed detailed investigations and a successful court prosecution. ALSO READ: Gauteng Health takes a stand against GBV Additional life sentences were issued in KwaZulu-Natal, where a 48-year-old grandfather and a 45-year-old uncle were found guilty in separate incidents of sexually abusing minor family members. The Mtubatuba Regional Court heard that the grandfather had repeatedly raped his granddaughter since 2020 at their Dukuduku home. In a separate case, the uncle was convicted of sexually abusing his niece in Ezibayeni. In a case involving child pornography, the Bloemfontein Regional Court sentenced 29-year-old Andre Meyer to three years' imprisonment, suspended for five years. Meyer had photographed a 12-year-old boy while the child was using a school toilet, an act that led to his conviction for creating explicit content involving a minor. The police reaffirmed their dedication to addressing crimes against women, children, and people with disabilities. The service noted it remains focused on ensuring perpetrators are held accountable and victims are supported through the justice system. 'The police remain dedicated to protecting children's rights and ensuring justice for victims of sexual crimes, especially women, children and people living with disabilities,' the statement read. At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading!
IOL News
11-06-2025
- IOL News
Police response to gender-based violence falls short as victims are left unsupported
A concerned citizen, who witnessed a homeless woman violently assaulted by a man in a local park, has voiced her frustrations at the police's inadequate response to her pleas for help. Image: Morgan Morgan / Dall-E / DFA / Illustration The Gauteng Police have indicated that they are looking into the allegations made by a concerned Gauteng resident who alleges that her attempts to get help on behalf of a homeless woman who was being beaten up by another homeless male were not returned by the police. This comes as victims of gender-based violence and femicide (GBVF) who are often left to fend for themselves whenever they report their experiences to the police continue to experience abuse often in the hands of men. This week, a Tik Tok video by a Joburg woman has trended on social media with other women also relating their own experiences of GBV. According to the concerned citizen who witnessed an act of GBV in her neighbourhood park, what made the situation even worse is the fact that the woman was carrying a child on her back. "I woke up at 5.30am to go to work for five hours and take my dog to the park then I see a homeless man beating up a homeless lady, hitting her in the face, kicking her, punching her, and hitting her with a crate and what made this worse is that this woman has a baby on her back. "So, I ran to my car to call the Randburg and Douglasdale police, with no luck. I then called 10111, but they failed to log the call," she lamented. A spate of GBVF-related cases has put the spotlight on the police's ability to effectively deal with the scourge of GBVF. Likhona Fose, 14, was recently found murdered and mutilated. Image: X Responding to the video, Gauteng spokesperson, Lieutenant Colonel Mavela Masondo, said the allegations made by the concerned resident are being taken seriously by the police. "We take the allegations very seriously. Gender-based violence remains a top priority in the South African Police Service. We appeal to the woman who made these allegations to come forward and give us the time and date when the calls were made so that we can investigate. If any of our members are found to have acted inappropriately, disciplinary action would be taken against him or her," Masondo stated. Also, reacting to the viral video, Siyabulela Monakali, speaking on behalf of Ilitha Labantu, an anti-GBV advocacy group, indicated that there is a growing report of victims being turned away or their cases not being properly registered by the police. "This reflects a disturbing and ongoing failure within our police services. Despite numerous declarations that gender-based violence and femicide constitute a national crisis, the reality on the ground tells a different story. "Survivors continue to encounter police stations that are unresponsive, dismissive, or ill-equipped to provide immediate and effective assistance. The failure to properly record and investigate GBV cases undermines survivors' rights and perpetuates a culture of impunity," said Monakali. Sonke Gender Justice spokesperson, Bafana Khumalo, recently revealed that the scourge of GBVF in the country has become prevalent, with the police succeeding in some cases and failing in others. "GBVF is horrendously high in SA, as we all know. The UN General Secretary asserts that the rate of GBVF in SA is five times the global average. Significantly high. You will be aware that when the Minister of Police released the quarterly crime stats last week, the report indicated that sexual offences were still very high. "This is a mixed bag. Some cases are managed well where you have authorities acting swiftly and professionally. Sadly, this is not always the case as we recently witnessed with the Omotoso case," Khumalo said. In a statement, the South African Police Service (SAPS) indicated that it will continue to keep a close eye on GBV cases, having arrested more than 19,000 suspects linked to domestic violence and GBV. "In 12 months, we have arrested more than 19,000 suspects who killed, assaulted, and raped women and young girls in this country. We have also sent 1,700 of them to prison, some got life in prison, and some 20-25 years in prison." As a result of the scourge, the police have recently established the Family Violence, Child Protection, and Sexual Investigations (FCS) unit, with a string of high-profile cases currently being investigated. These, the police say, range from the Olorato Mogale's murder as well as that of 14-year-old Likhona Fose. Monakali said that while the SAPS has adopted policies aimed at improving the handling of gender-based violence cases, in practice, many officers remain unprepared to meet the complex needs of survivors. "Trauma-informed, survivor-centred policing is not yet the norm, and officers too often lack the necessary training and resources to respond with sensitivity and urgency. The National Strategic Plan on GBVF sets clear mandates for capacity building, but implementation remains uneven and underfunded. "Without consistent and rigorous training in gender sensitivity, consent, and victim support, police responses continue to fall short, leading to delays, inadequate investigations, and low conviction rates. Moreover, accountability mechanisms for police misconduct or neglect remain weak, perpetuating a climate where survivors feel unsafe seeking help," Monakali stated. [email protected]
Zawya
16-04-2025
- Politics
- Zawya
South Africa: Government launches 90-day blitz to crush Gender-Based Violence and Femicide
The Justice, Crime Prevention and Security (JCPS) Cluster Ministers and senior officials convened a special sitting on Monday, 14 April 2025, under the leadership of Cluster Co-Chairs, Minister Mmamoloko Kubayi of the Department of Justice and Constitutional Development and Minister of Police, Senzo Mchunu. This urgent meeting was convened in response to the alarming surge in Gender-Based Violence and Femicide (GBVF) incidents across the country. It culminated in the adoption of a 90-day acceleration programme to intensify the national response and fast-track the implementation of the National Strategic Plan on GBVF. Recognising the gravity of the crisis, the Cluster resolved to revitalise and urgently reconstitute the Inter-Ministerial Committee (IMC) on GBVF, with a formal request to the President for its re-establishment under the 7th Administration. The IMC's inaugural meeting is scheduled to take place within two weeks. It will serve as the central coordinating mechanism to expedite government interventions, resolve systemic bottlenecks, and ensure measurable progress. A dedicated GBVF Priority Committee will also be established within the National Joint Operational and Intelligence Structure (NATJOINTS), co-chaired by the Departments of Social Development and Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities. This structure aims to improve the coordination of frontline security and protection interventions. Acknowledging the inadequacy of relying solely on the national government for local-level interventions, the Cluster directed the revitalisation of JCPS structures across all provinces. Provincial JCPS Committees, comprising security cluster executives and senior officials, will be established to drive targeted and localised implementation of GBVF interventions. The Cluster further directed the activation of government machinery at the grassroots level, with a strong emphasis on community mobilisation and the involvement of local structures in the fight against GBVF. To address inefficiencies within the criminal justice value chain, a team of senior officials has been tasked with aligning police, prosecutorial, and correctional services systems to eliminate delays in GBVF case processing. Departments have also been instructed to identify critical institutional gaps and propose actionable, time-bound measures. The meeting mandated the consolidation of GBVF-related statistics across the JCPS value chain, from arrest, prosecution, conviction to incarceration, into a single integrated report. This report, along with each department's intervention points, will be submitted to the IMC. The Government Communication and Information System (GCIS) has been instructed to coordinate a national webinar on GBVF, led by government experts, and to deliver targeted communication training to officials. The training will focus on ensuring message alignment and professional public engagement. The Cluster also resolved to prioritise the accelerated rollout of Thuthuzela Care Centres across all provinces to provide holistic, survivor-centred support services. The Department of Justice and Constitutional Development was specifically tasked with urgently addressing the repair and maintenance of SOS systems in court facilities. This is aimed at enhancing safety for survivors and witnesses, especially minors, and ensuring the prevention of secondary victimisation. Further, the meeting underscored the need to rebuild the social fabric of society, particularly the family unit, as a foundational step in the long-term prevention of GBVF. Departments were directed to develop results-driven action plans with clear timelines, defined target communities, and measurable outcomes. To strengthen the National Council on GBVF, departments will propose sustainable funding models and nominate board members at Deputy Director-General level or higher to reinforce institutional capacity. The meeting further resolved to intensify training across the Cluster on the revised legislation, regulations, and guidelines for handling GBVF cases. In addition, concern was raised about the growing number of children arrested for sexual offences, prompting a directive for NATJOINTS to develop an appropriate and urgent response to this emerging crisis. Importantly, the Cluster affirmed the need to reclaim the national narrative on GBVF and broader security matters, ensuring that government, not external actors, leads public discourse on these issues. This 90-day blitz marks not only a declaration of intent but the beginning of a coordinated, government-wide campaign to end GBVF. Implementation began immediately following the meeting, and the Co-Chairs emphasised that incremental change is no longer sufficient. Government enters this period with full force, calling on every organ of state and sector of society to play an active, decisive role in eradicating GBVF. Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Republic of South Africa: Government Communication and Information System (GCIS).
