The Minister for Women, Children and People with Disabilities Lulu Xingwana wearing her cap as the chairperson of the National Council Against Gender-Based Violence (NCGBV) has called on the police to speed up the investigation into the case of a man who is alleged to have committed 100 counts of rape.
Reacting to reports in the media this morning about a 40-year-old Tembisa man who has been in police custody since July last year, Xingwana said that while there is an acknowledgement that the accused is being investigated for serious allegations of rape, kidnapping and assault and may even be facing further charges, the purpose of an arrest is to ensure that perpetrators are brought to justice.
“We are concerned that the case appears to be taking longer hence we are calling on the process to be expedited without compromising the quality of the investigation so that ultimately justice can be served. Swift action will send a message that crimes against children and vulnerable groups in society will not go unpunished.
“The brave young victims must be commended together with their families for reporting the crime to the police which eventually led to the identification and arrest of the suspect.”
Xingwana said the NCGBV appeals to all sectors of society to mobilise and ensure the safety of children in and out of school and to give survivors of the heinous crime and their families the necessary support.
“As supervisors over our children it is important that we are more attentive to issues and reports they raise and observe any behavioural changes that might be an indication of some form of abuse so as to act quickly in stopping violations of their rights. It is also incumbent upon every parent; care giver and teacher to make sure children are able to identify encounters with strangers that can lead to violation of their rights.”
The accused appeared at the Protea Magistrate’s Court this morning and his case was postponed to April 10.
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