Question NW1784 to the Minister in The Presidency for Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities
22 September 2023 - NW1784
Mafanya, Mr WTI to ask the Minister in The Presidency for Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities
What are the relevant details of the investigations that her Office, working together with the SA Police Service, initiated regarding the escalating number of women and children abductions that are rampant across the Republic?
Reply:
Combating the abductions of women and children falls within the mandate of the South African Police Service (SAPS), thus a detailed response on investigations initiated may be obtained from the Minister of Police.
The department coordinates the implementation and monitoring of the National Strategic Plan on Gender-Based Violence and Femicide (NSP on GBVF). This includes monitoring various interventions in the fight against Gender-Based Violence and Femicide (GBVF) by the SAPS as detailed below:
|
# |
Monitoring Area |
Progress Noted as at April 2023 |
|
DNA kits |
100% procurement of DNA kits by SA Police Service and delivery of kits to police stations, mainly to collect DNA samples in reported sex crimes. |
|
|
Conviction and detection rates for crime committed against women |
As at March 2023, the conviction rate was 83.38% and the detection rate was 69.55%. The police attributed the low detection rate to difficulties in tracing attempted murder and arrest of undocumented repeat offenders. |
|
|
Conviction and detection rates for crime committed against children |
As at March 2023, the conviction rate was 81.68% and the detection rate was also 81.68%. The police attributed the low detection rate to the mediation of cases before arrest of suspect and that complainants are unable to identify the perpetrators due to intoxication and environmental design. |
|
|
GBVF Backlog Cases |
The SA Police Service has worked intensively to clear backlog cases where in December 2021 80 656 were backlog and as at April 2023 the backlog was reduced to 31 021. |
|
|
Quality of victim-friendly services |
100% (1 159) of functional police stations render victim-friendly services. However, do police stations do not meet the quality dimensions as per the SA Police Service Categorisations: Bethule police station (in Free State Xhariep District) and Moeka Vuma police station (in North West Bojanala District). |
|
|
GBVF Hotspots |
665 preventions interventions conducted in top 30 GBV, domestic violence and sexual offences police stations in the country between February and March 2023. |
|
|
Training and Support for Police |
In 2022/23 2 262 (100%) Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offences (FCS) officials received trauma debriefing. This is important in the fight against GBVF. Training on proactive interventions targeting 3806 officers, by 31 March 2023. 12 950 members trained and 12 938 declared competent. Indicator is at 340% performance. Training on reactive interventions targeting 3 497 officers by 31 March 2023. 13 015 members trained and 12 991 declared competent. Indicator is currently at 372% performance. The courses covered have relevancy for dealing with abductions. The courses include: human rights and policing; vulnerable groups; victim empowerment; first responder to sexual offences; resolving of crimes skills; domestic violence learning; family violence, child protection and sexual offences; psychological motivated crimes; and dignity, diversity and policy. |
|
|
Breaking alcohol and GBVF linkages |
A total of 53 259 illegal liquor outlets have either closed or the illegal traded terminated from May 2021 to March 2023. |
|
|
Budget and Expenditure |
The SA Police Service report a budget of R100 Million for the implementation of the GBV Action Plan for the 2022/23 financial year. As at March 2023, expenditure was R89 Million with a variance of about R11 Million. |