The North West Department of Public Safety's overall strategic goal set for the reduction of rape and other sexual offences has been set at a minimum of seven percent. According to the workshop hosted by the provincial department on the implementation of the Integrated Strategy to Prevent and Combat Sexual Offences held on Tuesday in Orkney, this should translate into a reduction of 319 reported cases of rape every year.
The 2008/09 Annual Crime Statistics Report announced by North West MEC for Public Safety, Howard Yawa to Provincial stakeholders last month revealed that 5 295 cases of sexual crimes were reported in the last financial year. In its presentation, the South African Police Service (SAPS) highlighted that 41,58% of the sexual crimes occurred on Saturdays. 44,82% of the crimes occurred between eight o'clock and midnight.
Although in most instances of sexual offences, the perpetrators are known to the victims either as friends and or family, women walking alone at night and or frequenting taverns or shebeen are targeted. To prevent this category of crime, Women are discouraged from accepting lifts from strangers.
The district workshops on the integrated strategy are also intended to improve the functioning of Thuthuzela Care Centres (TCC) established through the National Prosecution Authority's Sexual Offences and Community Affairs (SOCA) Unit. The multidisciplinary care centres are aimed at reducing secondary victimization of sexual violence offences, improving the process of reporting and prosecution of sexual violence offences to a dignified and caring environment.
The one stop centre models brings together various role players are based at different provincial hospitals across the country focus on sexual violence against women and children are also meant to improve conviction rate. The Mafikeng TCC has a 100% women staff compliments which comprise a site coordinator, victim assistance officer, nurse, doctor, police officer, counsellor, psychologist and case manager.
The workshop is part of the Public Safety Department's consultation process to market the strategy to all role players including the private sector, civic organizations and specific interest groups. The marketing exercise is intended to raise awareness with a view to eradicate misconceptions around sexual offences, gender based violence and their causes.
The strategy focuses on six priority areas, prevention, early intervention, responses of the Criminal Justice System, victim support and service provision, research and information management, an integrated and collaborative approach. It is in its second year of implementation and supposed to be reviewed next year after a three year implementation cycle that commenced in 2008.
The workshop was hosted in partnership with Dr Kenneth Kaunda District Municipality and the South African Police Service and attended by non-governmental organisations (NGOs), community based organisations, women and gender activists, Community Development Workers (CDWs), representatives of government departments of correctional service, education, health and social development and local municipalities. Further workshops are to be held in other districts in due course.
Enquiries:
Lesiba Moses Kgwele
Tel: 018 381 9171
Cell: 083 629 1987
Fax: 018 381 9123
E-mail: LKgwele@nwpg.gov.za
Issued by: Department of Public Safety, North West Provincial Government
11 November 2009
