The challenge of skewed distribution of services and resources concentrated in urban areas to the disadvantage of rural communities is to be addressed by the Integrated Provincial Strategy to reduce and combat sexual offences launched on Thursday in the North West province.
The strategy meant to decrease sexual offences and the number of reported rape incidents by 7 percent over the next three years was launched by Provincial Justice Crime Prevention and Security Cluster stakeholders at Manamakgotheng village. The provincial launch led by the newly reconfigured Department of Human Settlements, Safety and Liaison formed part of the 20th anniversary celebrations of the United Nations’ International 16 Days of Activism Against Gender Violence Campaign
Six priorities of the strategy are prevention, early intervention, responses of the criminal justice system, victim support and service provision, research and information and an integrated and collaborative approach.
MEC for the department, Desbo Mohono in her keynote address delivered on her behalf by Bojanala Platinum District Municipality’s Member of the Mayor committee, Councillor Pele Khupe, commended the collaborative efforts of sector departments within the Provincial Justice Crime Prevention and Security Cluster supported by Community Policing Forums, other stakeholders and communities that resulted in the reduction of rape cases and sexual offences in the province. Both were reduced by -6.4 percent and -5 percent respectively.
The North West province also made significant strides to reduce crime involving neglect of children by -19.1 percent during the 2009/10 financial year. Child abuse cases decreased by -12.6 percent while cases of ill-treatment of children decreased by -3.91 percent and child care by -3.03 percent.
Abduction and kidnapping cases were also reduced by -15.27 percent and -12.75 percent respectively. All Police precincts from the province that were listed among those that generated 40 percent of rape cases in the country during the 2006/07 financial years recorded reductions in rape cases during the 2009/10 financial year. Kanana reduced by -27.5 percent, Phokeng by -14.6 percent, Ikageng by -14.5, Mogwase by-10.8, Mmabatho by -10.5 percent, Rustenburg by -8.6 percent and Jouberton by -2.6 percent
MEC Mohono also called upon the business sector to adopt and support programmes by municipalities towards the implementation of the crime prevention through environmental design strategy which complements our Integrated Provincial Strategy to prevent and combat sexual offences.
In extending the call to action the media, the Progressive Women’s movement, organised labour, churches, other faith based organisations, traditional leaders, non-government organisations, women and youth groups to be part of the campaign and the implementation process of the strategy to prevent and combat sexual offences, MEC Mohono said that government alone cannot succeed to eradicate the scourge of abuse of women and child abuse, it needs active support and participation ofall stakeholders in order for the campaign to reach all rural communities. “Our activism and collaborative effort should teach male chauvinists that culture, tradition and religion should no longer be used as excuses to suppress and undermine human dignity and violate the right of women and children in the society. Working together we can do more to take this year’s campaign to a higher level as part of implementing the 365 days plan of action adopted after the 10 year review of the campaign last year,” she said.
The Integrated Provincial Strategy to reduce and combat sexual offences is linked to the National Crime Prevention Strategy (NCPS) which aims to ensure coordination of crime prevention initiatives to ensure that communities enjoy good community police relations. The objective of the NCPS is to also restore confidence in the ability of government to provide accessible, efficient, effective, accountable, transformed and reliable services.
Enquiries:
Lesiba Moses Kgwele
Tel: 018 381 9171
Cell: 083 629 1987
E-mail: LKgwele@nwpg.gov.za
