Question NW645 to the Minister of Police
27 September 2024 - NW645
Mente-Nkuna, Ms NV to ask the Minister of Police
What are the reasons that (a) no statutory rape cases were opened and (b) no arrests were made on the recent cases of child pregnancy reported by the (i) Minister of Basic Education and (ii) Minister of Health?
Reply:
(a)(b)(i)(ii) The Criminal Law (Sexual Offences and Related Matters), 2007 (Act No. 32 of 2007), and specifically section 54(1)(a) of the Act, places an obligation on a person who has knowledge that a sexual offence has been committed against a child, to report such knowledge immediately to a member of the South African Police Service (SAPS), for investigation.
All cases of sexual offences that are reported to the SAPS are investigated, in order to detect and arrest the perpetrator.