The partnership between police, crime prevention structures, churches, faith-based organisations, women organisations, non-government organisations and other civil society organisations needs to be strengthened to combat the scourge of sexual offences against women and girl children, North West Premier Mme Thandi Modise said in Mahikeng on Wednesday.
“The spate of rape incidents that we have experienced in recent weeks particularly those involving victims that are known to perpetrators have reached unacceptable and alarming proportions in our province and country and point to moral decay that needs urgent intervention before communities start taking the law into their own hands. We call on real men to condemn and support the call to action to end this scourge,” Premier Modise said in fury.
The Premier appealed to women not to leave their girl children with strangers, visit taverns and other drinking places at night, walk alone at night, ask and or accept lifts from strangers.
According to police, thirteen rape incidents were reported across the North West Province over the past weekend.
Modise said that the extent to which abuse of alcohol, drugs and pornography are contributing towards the scourge also needs to be investigated and for the effective implementation of the Programme of Action for the Integrated Provincial Strategy to Prevent and Combat Sexual Offences to be evaluated.
Enquiries:
Lesiba Moses Kgwele
Tel: 018 388 3705
Cell: 083 629 1987
Fax: 086 620 4802
E-mail: LKgwele@nwpg.gov.za
