The withdrawal of domestic violence cases was among others contributing factors of abuse on women and children, this is according to Mpumalanga Community Safety, Security and Liaison MEC Vusi Shongwe.
Shongwe said that those who report cases of abuse and later withdraw them should be arrested. He says this has an impact on the South African Police Service (SAPS) as resources and time is devoted to thoroughly investigate these cases.
The MEC said this encourages the perpetrators to perpetually abuse women and children as they know that the cases against them would be withdrawn by their victims, while crime statistics would also continue to show an increase on this category of crime.
Shongwe was speaking during the provincial launch of the 16 Days of Activism for No Violence Against Women and Children held in Thembisile Hani Local Municipality Saturday, 29 November 2014.
In his address, Shongwe told thousands of people who attended the event that women must stop protecting perpetrators of abuse just because they are breadwinners.
“All cases should be reported because police would not know when people are abused in their houses, unless reported at the relevant authorities. It is the duty of the victim to present reliable information to the police so that the perpetrator is prosecuted and we stop him from harming more people,” said Shongwe.
He added that parents must protect their girl children from underage drinking as this expose them to abuse and rape by the men who buy them alcohol in taverns and that taverns that do not comply with regulations, in particular those allowing underage youth in their premises be closed down.Shongwe further emphasized that although government promotes equality amongst men and women; women must not abuse their rights, they must continue to respect other people.
Speaking at the same event was Mpumalanga Acting Provincial Commissioner, Major General Meshack Nogwanya who said that according to their records, a lot of cases of abuse where caused as a results of alcohol.
According to Nogwanya, during this Festive Season police will raid taverns to ensure that the operators are authorised to operate and that they comply with their operating licenses.
“I have ordered police in the province to permanently close down all non complying taverns. We are declaring a war against them and also to those who own scrap yards dealing with stolen vehicles.
We will also monitor all ports of entry in the province to make certain that no illegal goods such as drugs are smuggled into the province,” he said.
Nogwanya later assured the community that all corrupt police officers will be flushed out of the police service as they dent the image of good policing. Meanwhile, Mpumalanga Chairperson of Traditional Leaders, Kgoshi Lameck Mokoena said that men must not use tradition to perpetrate abuse.
He said that as traditional leaders, they discourage “ukuthwala” (marrying a woman forcefully) as it promotes gender based violence. He also assured the MEC that traditional leaders support initiatives to fight crime and domestic violence in communities.
Enquiries:
Joseph Mabuza
Joseph Mabuza
Tel: 013 766 4055
Cell: 082 678 1450
E-mail: emabuza@mpg.gov.za
Province
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