Pretoria - Over 700 arrests have been made for crimes against women and children and persons with disabilities, according to the Justice, Crime Prevention and Security (JCPS) Cluster.
“A total of 768 arrests for crimes against women and children as well as persons with disabilities have been effected. The most arrests were made in relation to rape, other sexual offences and kidnapping,” said Police Minister Nkosinathi Nhleko on Sunday.
The Minister was briefing the media on progress made by the cluster.
The province with the most arrests for rape is KwaZulu-Natal with 153 arrests, followed by the Free State with 110 arrests and the Eastern Cape with 65 arrests.
“In general, the provinces with the top combined total in this pillar are KwaZulu-Natal with a combined total of 197 arrests, followed by the Free State with a combined total of 169 arrests and the Eastern Cape with a combined total of 102 arrests,” said the Minister.
This comes as the country wrapped up the 16 Days of No Violence against Women and Children campaign earlier this week.
The 16 Days of Activism for No Violence against Women and Children is an international campaign observed from 25 November to 10 December to raise awareness of the negative impact that violence has on women, children and society.
This year’s campaign was held under the theme “Count Me In. Together moving a non-violent South Africa forward”.
With regards to sexual violence, the Minister said the Department of Social Development is committed to the implementation of the Criminal Law (Sexual Offences and Related Matters) Amendment Act, and programmes are implemented under the Victim Empowerment Programme.
The department has trained victim empowerment service providers and stakeholders on Criminal Law (Sexual Offences and Related Matters) Amendment Act and Trafficking in Persons in all nine provinces.
Six Khuseleka One Stop Centres, which provide integrated victim empowerment services under one roof as part of limiting secondary victimisation, have been established.
The department has also established 84 shelters for abused women and 201 white door centres of hope for victims of gender-based violence in different provinces.
This is as part of breaking the cycle of violence in line with the implementation of the Domestic Violence Act and the Programme of Action to address violence against women and children.
The department also established the Gender-Based Violence Command Centre. The command centre was launched in March 2014 and provides support and counselling to victims of gender-based violence.
It allows social worker agents to provide telephonic support and counselling to callers and can direct the victim’s case to a social worker close to them.
The call centre operates through a toll free number: 0800 428 428 (0800 GBV) or callers can request a social worker to contact them by dialling *120*7867# (free from any cell phone).
An operation was conducted at the Hasephapho and Van Rooyen border gates as part of the 16 Days of Activism Campaign. This was done to raise awareness of trafficking in persons especially on sexual exploitation. – SAnews.gov.za
