There is a serious deficiency in the South African Police Service’s (SAPS’s) approach to dealing with the protection of women and children against all forms of abuse.
The most vulnerable members of society which includes, women, children, the elderly, people with disabilities and LGBT’s safety is under threat.
I recently visited Etwatwa police station in Ekurhuleni, and found the attitude of the police officers disdainful and not helpful to the public.
The section where cases are opened is very small with no privacy to deal with domestic violence and sexual offence cases.
The police officer dealing with the registrars for domestic violence, rape and protection orders was on leave and I was informed that nobody else could assist us.
We waited for hours, being sent from one police officer to another, when we eventually left without assistance.
This is totally unacceptable as these services are crucial to the public. There should be a police officer assisting in absence of another.
There have been no arrests relating to the 54 rape cases reported in the past 6 months at Etwatwa police station.
This indicates that the police are not doing enough to ensure the safety of our people, as an alleged serial rapist is still on the streets on the prowl for more victims.
As we mark the 16 Days of No Violence Against Women and Children, we call upon Gauteng MEC for Community Safety, Sizakele Nkosi-Malobane and the Gauteng SAPS Provincial Commissioner, General Deliwe De Lange to intervene and ensure that SAPS works around the clock to arrest the alleged serial rapist and address the attitude of SAPS officers towards the public.
The DA will continue to do all it can to ensure that women and children are treated with dignity and are protected against all forms of violence.