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Petition is successful with 218 signatures
To: Vosloorus Station Commander (SAPS)
Stop turning rape victims away
The President addressed this issue by promising to train and improve our law enforcement agencies to deal with victims better. We are on the accountability phase of the campaign.
Dear Mr Brig Themba Denge,
Please commit to implementing this course of action within the next 3 months at Vosloorus police station to help solve this issue:
1) Partner with an organisation that can provide effective training to the police force at Vosloorus police station on how to deal with rape cases effectively and in a sensitive manner.
Please commit to implementing this course of action within the next 3 months at Vosloorus police station to help solve this issue:
1) Partner with an organisation that can provide effective training to the police force at Vosloorus police station on how to deal with rape cases effectively and in a sensitive manner.
Why is this important?
The most accessible law enforcement body in South Africa i.e. the police, have become one of the most discouraging, uncomfortable and demeaning places to report rape cases. Not only are some police stations not equipped to handle rape cases, but the police force is often not sensitive to the issue brought forth by the victim [1]. As a result, most rape victims sought to not report rape crimes because the negative experiences at police stations impair on their dignity or result in victims believing that reporting rape is a waste of time.
It’s testimonies like “I had to visit 3 police stations before I could get help” or “they made me tell my story at the reception area out in the open” that make this campaign necessary. Although this matter has been resolved on paper e.g. Charter for Victims of Crime in South Africa, much more practical action is required [2].This issue has been long overdue and deserves effective sustainable action from the Department of Police and other relevant stakeholders. The Vosloorus police station is one of the many police stations in South Africa that have delivered poor services and have discouraged rape victims from reporting their cases.
The Minister of Police together with the entire Department of Police is the target for this campaign. They have the power to influence how rape cases are dealt with because they recruit and train the police force and draft policies, frameworks and code of conducts for how the police force should engage with the public [3]. Moreover, the department has power over how the safety and security portion of the national budget is allocated and spent.
Former Minister of Police Fikile Mbalula vowed that women would no longer be turned down at police stations at a press conference in 2017 [4] and outlined that a report has been handed to SAPS for an action plan [5]. The promises made in his speech were valid, however, with the change of ministers – the South African community fear that this report may never manifest into our police stations.
In addressing this issue, more rape victims will develop the confidence to report rape and retain trust in the police to handle their case to their best ability. Help us create police stations that serve their purpose i.e. to protect members of the public and to enforce the law. It's not okay that victims are being turned away or have to go through a demeaning experience in order to be heard or get the help they need - they are already traumatised as is. Police stations should be accessible, useable and effective because rape victims highly depend on them.
Recently Minister Bheki Cele has commented on this issue and this campaign has the potential to succeed because it will form as a means to hold him accountable for his promises. Less of press briefings and commentary on this issue is need, the SAPS management needs to take action. This issue has not been given the attention it needs, it is an urgent matter that must be dealt with - considering the increasing statistics of rape.
References:
1. Dee Smyth. (2015). Rape Unresolved: Policing Sexual Offences in South Africa. Cape Town, South Africa: University of Cape Town Press.
2. Kathleen Dey & Emily Whiteside. (2015, August 28). Reporting rape when the police don’t take you seriously. Health-e News. Retrieved from https://www.health-e.org.za/2015/08/28/reporting-rape-when-the-police-dont-take-you-seriously/.
3. SAPS. (n.d.). About Us: Strategic framework. Retrieved from https://www.saps.gov.za/about/about.php.
4. Marianne Merten. (2017, May 23). Fikile Mbalula’s vow on reporting rape: ‘No woman will be turned away from a police station’. Daily Maverick. Retrieved from https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2017-05-23-fikile-mbalulas-vow-on-reporting-rape-no-woman-will-be-turned-away-from-a-police-station/.
5. AFP. (2017, September 07). Rape victims struggle against policing flaws. Times Live. Retrieved from https://www.timeslive.co.za/news/south-africa/2017-09-07-rape-victims-struggle-against-policing-flaws/.
6. Image retrieved from https://ossafrica.com.
It’s testimonies like “I had to visit 3 police stations before I could get help” or “they made me tell my story at the reception area out in the open” that make this campaign necessary. Although this matter has been resolved on paper e.g. Charter for Victims of Crime in South Africa, much more practical action is required [2].This issue has been long overdue and deserves effective sustainable action from the Department of Police and other relevant stakeholders. The Vosloorus police station is one of the many police stations in South Africa that have delivered poor services and have discouraged rape victims from reporting their cases.
The Minister of Police together with the entire Department of Police is the target for this campaign. They have the power to influence how rape cases are dealt with because they recruit and train the police force and draft policies, frameworks and code of conducts for how the police force should engage with the public [3]. Moreover, the department has power over how the safety and security portion of the national budget is allocated and spent.
Former Minister of Police Fikile Mbalula vowed that women would no longer be turned down at police stations at a press conference in 2017 [4] and outlined that a report has been handed to SAPS for an action plan [5]. The promises made in his speech were valid, however, with the change of ministers – the South African community fear that this report may never manifest into our police stations.
In addressing this issue, more rape victims will develop the confidence to report rape and retain trust in the police to handle their case to their best ability. Help us create police stations that serve their purpose i.e. to protect members of the public and to enforce the law. It's not okay that victims are being turned away or have to go through a demeaning experience in order to be heard or get the help they need - they are already traumatised as is. Police stations should be accessible, useable and effective because rape victims highly depend on them.
Recently Minister Bheki Cele has commented on this issue and this campaign has the potential to succeed because it will form as a means to hold him accountable for his promises. Less of press briefings and commentary on this issue is need, the SAPS management needs to take action. This issue has not been given the attention it needs, it is an urgent matter that must be dealt with - considering the increasing statistics of rape.
References:
1. Dee Smyth. (2015). Rape Unresolved: Policing Sexual Offences in South Africa. Cape Town, South Africa: University of Cape Town Press.
2. Kathleen Dey & Emily Whiteside. (2015, August 28). Reporting rape when the police don’t take you seriously. Health-e News. Retrieved from https://www.health-e.org.za/2015/08/28/reporting-rape-when-the-police-dont-take-you-seriously/.
3. SAPS. (n.d.). About Us: Strategic framework. Retrieved from https://www.saps.gov.za/about/about.php.
4. Marianne Merten. (2017, May 23). Fikile Mbalula’s vow on reporting rape: ‘No woman will be turned away from a police station’. Daily Maverick. Retrieved from https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2017-05-23-fikile-mbalulas-vow-on-reporting-rape-no-woman-will-be-turned-away-from-a-police-station/.
5. AFP. (2017, September 07). Rape victims struggle against policing flaws. Times Live. Retrieved from https://www.timeslive.co.za/news/south-africa/2017-09-07-rape-victims-struggle-against-policing-flaws/.
6. Image retrieved from https://ossafrica.com.