Subject: Criminalise sexual extortion, says Public Protector
Public Protector Advocate Kholeka Gcaleka on Wednesday called for the perpetrators of “sextortion” to be charged with corruption, arguing that such conduct constituted gratification as envisaged in the Prevention and Combating of Corrupt Activities Act.
Adv. Gcaleka was speaking at the second University of Stellenbosch Symposium on Gender Inequality and Anti-Corruption in Bellville, Cape Town, in the Western Cape. The three-day symposium forms part of the university’s School of Public Leadership’s commemoration of Women’s Month.
“South Africa’s anti-corruption statute does not require a gratification to have a monetary value, meaning sexual corruption is arguably already corruption under existing law,” she said. “What is missing is not the offence but the charge, the prosecution, the record and the count.”
Sextortion is defined by international anti-corruption and accountability bodies such as Transparency International and International Association of Women Judges as the abuse of entrusted power for sexual rather than financial benefit.
Adv. Gcaleka also proposed that, in addition to preferring corruption charges for such conduct, channels for reporting the malady to appropriate authorities should exclude the offices of the perpetrators, with a view to eliminating potential interference.
For media enquiries related to the Public Protector’s address, please contact
Mr Oupa Segalwe on 072 264 3273 or email oupas@pprotect.org
Media Enquiries: MediaEnquiries@pprotect.org
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