Statement read by the Minister for Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities during the joint media briefing on gender-based violence and femicide
The Minister of Justice and Correctional Services
Deputy Minister of Police
Deputy Minister of Social Development
Members of the Media
The high rate of crime against women and children, remains a grave concern of the Government at large. Today we are here as a collective of government leaders from the Ministry of Justice and Correctional Service, Police, Social Development and Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities to address the nation on the upsurge in the scourge of Gender Based Violence and Femicide.
At its core, violence against women and children is the manifestation of a profound lack of respect – a failure men to recognize the inherent equality and dignity of women, an issue of fundamental human rights. In the month of August alone, more than 30 women were killed in the hands of their partners.
Today, President Cyril Ramaphosa has commended the country’s law enforcement authorities for their action which led to the arrests of two suspects linked to the brutal murders of University of Cape Town student Uyinene Mrwetyana and SA boxing champion Leighandre Jegels. The murder of these two young women; one at the hands of a stranger and the other killed by a man who was reportedly her boyfriend remain a stark reminder that the women of South Africa are not safe, either in their homes or in the streets.
On Monday 2 September 2019, the body of a 14 year old girl was found in a backyard in Cape Town, adding to a grim body count of murdered women and girls across the country. As government we are aware that there are many unreported cases of GBV and femicide that are not reported in the media and therefore do not receive prominence in the public domain and this does not make them less important or not a priority for us, we believe that every perpetrator should be brought to book and every victim should have access to justice and their story has to be told.
The South African Police Service is ‘an arm’ of government that does not rest when it comes to investigating the abuse women and children suffer at the hands of criminals, sometimes these perpetrators being their husbands, fathers, boyfriends, family members and family friends.
In its commitment to serve and protect the vulnerable, the SAPS has prioritised crime perpetrated against women and children.
This commitment starts at a police station where at every station a Victim Friendly Facility is established. This is to ensure that a victim is in a comfortable and secluded environment when reporting a crime. Female victims are attended to by females and in every case a victim is offered professional psychological counselling.
To give further impetus to this commitment a multi-disciplinary integrated approach together with the Department of Social Development (DSD), the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA), the Department of Justice (DOJ) and civil society has been adopted.
Furthermore, the SAPS re-established the Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offences (FCS) Units on 1 June 2010. Since then, the capacity and capabilities of these units have grown exponentially.
We have since established 185 units countrywide with specific focus on family violence, child protection and sexual offences. The FCS Units include sections for serial and electronic (Specialised Electronic Crime) investigations, responsible for the efficient investigation of crime that is perpetrated by identified serial offenders and electronic crime such as child pornography.
The Forensic Social Work Services is responsible for rendering forensic social work support while focusing on specialised investigations. This section was established for the purpose of ensuring that crimes against women and children is effectively combated by means of both proactive and reactive approaches as well as through the multi-disciplinary approach while ensuring that the victims are treated with utmost sensitivity.
The FCS Units further focuses on conducting quality investigations and specialises in investigating crime such as sexual offences, which include rape, attempted rape, sexual assault, cases of grievous bodily harm, murders, the illegal removal of persons referred to as abduction, the kidnapping of children, missing children, child neglect, child abandonment, and child trafficking.
These units also investigate serial offenders like serial rapists and also deal with crimes facilitated by the electronic media, like child pornography. The social workers within these units practising forensic social work, assist the FCS investigating officers in the investigation of child abuse cases, the forensic assessment process which deals with cases of alleged child abuse referred by investigating officers and the judiciary system, provide statements and scientifically based court reports in order to assist the investigation and legal process, thereby rendering expert testimony in criminal court matters.
The FCS is one of the most dedicated units in the organisation, which is why several members of this Unit have been awarded the National Commissioner’s special award, an award presented to selfless men and women who continue to display devotion to service. During the period of 1 July to 31 December 2018, the courts sentenced a total of 1 357 convicts and gave them 371 life sentences and over 4 629 years’ imprisonment in 838 cases. This included six serial rapists who were sentenced to a combined 17 life sentences and more than 800 years’ imprisonment.
Government welcomes the President’s move to capacitate the police and the court system to support the survivors of gender-based violence as mentioned in his SONA. All South Africans are urged to cooperate with the law enforcement agencies to identify criminals who continue to commit heinous crimes in our communities taking advantage of the elderly, women and children.
In 2019, the Presidency signed the Declaration on Gender-Based Violence and Femicide with various civil society formations and has directed that urgent attention be given to its implementation, particularly on immediate measures around support to victims and access to shelters and places of safety. Following intensive consultations and engagements, we are working toward the establishment of a Gender-based Violence and Femicide Council and a National Strategic Plan that will guide all of us, wherever we are, in our efforts to eradicate this national scourge”.
To end violence against women and girls we must educate men and women and change gender stereotypes, attitudes and beliefs that condone violence and harmful constructions of masculinity. We must also promote gender equitable norms and behaviours and women’s participation in decision-making.
Efforts to prevent gender based violence must be accelerated along with increased access to justice, including reparations, and access to comprehensive services, the empowerment of women and girls and the eradication of stigmatisation of survivors. This requires the adoption of approaches at different levels and engaging all segments of society, including dedicated work with men and boys.
We furthermore call upon the nation to collectively address the scourge of Gender Based Violence and Femicide. Actions can be louder if we stand together by advocating for change in our environment.
The Ministry of Justice and Correctional Services, has directed the Directional General of Justice and Constitutional Development to immediately convene the inter-sectoral committee in terms section 63 of the sexual offences. The committee is chaired by the National Commissioner of Police Services, National Commissioner of Correctional Services, Director General Social Development, Director General Health and the National Director of Public Prosecutions.
In terms of the section 63 of the Sexual offences act this committee is responsible for ensuring that the Criminal Justice System takes a victim centric approach to sexual offences.
These includes but are not limited to increasing the foot print of sexual offences courts across the country, amending the Criminal Procedure to ensure that persons who allege that they are sexually violated are not re-violated.
This committee will provide a briefing on what is being done to ensure that an efficient victim centred response is implemented.
We collectively are calling for all service delivery points within the value chain of the criminal justice system to exhibit speed, sensitivity and responsive attitudes to reduce, and ultimately eradicate secondary victimisation.
We jointly call upon our officials to ensure that they treat victims with respect dignity and refrain from any form of victim blaming. This scourge calls for the collective participation of all the government agencies and the community organisations to enhance our interventions in so far as gender based violence is concerned.
In mourning for all women killed, the Department is declaring Sunday, 8 September 2019 a national moment of silence and prayer and encourages all men to speak against violence.
Reporting abuse can save a life. We urge communities and victims of any form of abuse to report such cases to law enforcement officers or use any of the following hotline numbers: Callers may remain anonymous and all information will be treated with the strictest confidence.
- SAPS Crime Stop: 08600 10 111
- SMS Crime Line: 32211
- Department of Social Development 24-hour Command Centre: 0800 428 428 (toll-free) – callers can speak to a social worker for assistance and counselling
- Callers can also request a social worker from the Command Centre to contact them by dialling *120*7867# (free) from any cell phone
- Child Welfare South Africa: 0861 424453 / 011 452-4110 / e-mail:info@childwelfaresa.org.za
- Child Line – 08000 55 555 (toll-free)
Enquiries:
Mmabatho Ramompi
Cell: 076 480 3513
Chrispin Phiri
Cell: 083 220 9691
