Pretoria - The Justice, Crime Prevention and Security (JCPS) Cluster says it is encouraged by the country’s courts, which have demonstrated an aggressive stance in addressing the scourge of sexual violence.
The cluster singled out the severe sentences in two prominent cases, with the rapist and killer of Anene Booysen, who was sentenced to 25 years and the Tholeni serial rapist and killer from Butterworth in the Eastern Cape, who was handed down 25 life terms.
The cluster chairperson and Justice Minister, Jeff Radebe, said government had adopted a zero-tolerance approach towards the abuse of women and children.
“Over the past five years, several interventions were introduced to address gender-based violence and sexual offences against vulnerable groups,” the minister said on Wednesday.
These interventions, he said, included the adoption and ascent of the Criminal Law (Sexual Offences and Related Matters) Amendment Act and the Child Justice Act, which was passed in 2008.
Government also introduced 176 specialised Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offences (FCS) units, which operate throughout the country.
Briefing the media on progress that the cluster has made, Minister Radebe said in support of the investigation of such crimes, 2 139 forensic social workers were appointed.
“These include 79 forensic social workers appointed to assist in cases of sexual abuse perpetrated against children. Government has also established 39 fully functional Thuthuzela Care Centres, which serve as one-stop centres for incidents of rape. Collectively, these interventions have led to 1 194 life sentences during the past three years.”
In order to deal with the secondary victimisation of victims of sexual violence, the cluster introduced 919 victim-friendly facilities at police stations to render support.
Government has further re-introduced the sexual offences courts to ensure that victims of these crimes are able to access justice in a victim-friendly environment.
“We have, since 1994, laid a solid constitutional, legislative, policy and regulatory framework transforming the repressive.
“With regards to the National Register for Sex Offenders, the number of convicted sex offenders has increased from 2 792 names in March 2013 to 13 216 names in December 2013,” the minister said.
In the month of October 2013 alone, the minister said 3 384 current and historic convictions were successfully registered.
“The convictions affirm that government’s investments are beginning to yield the desired results.”
Fight against crime
The cluster also reported that great progress has been made in the fight against crime.
“In general, over the past nine years (2004/5 to 2012/13), incidents of crime declined against the increase in population figures. Murder reduced by 27.2% over nine years, with a further reduction of 16.6% during the past four years,” Minister Radebe said.
He attributed the reduced crime levels to the increase in visible policing and improved crime-combating initiatives, which were part of the National Crime Prevention Strategy, as well as improvements in investigations, conviction rates and the imposition of harsher sentences.
Most of the people convicted of serious crimes also have received harsher sentences.
About 12 104 persons were sentenced to 15 - 20 years, about 9 438 were sentenced to more than 20 years and 12 443 persons received life sentences.
According to statistics, the conviction rate in relation to organised crime cases was 87.9%, 84.7% for trio crimes cases and 66.7% for crimes relating to sexual offences cases.
Rooting out corruption
The cluster has established the Anti-Corruption Task Team (ACTT), which prioritises the investigation and prosecution of corruption cases. The ACTT coordinates more than 100 dedicated personnel from across several different agencies in the effort to fight corruption.
The minister said the efforts of the ACTT have led to notable progress in combatting corruption in the public and private sectors.
“By end December 2013, 48 persons were convicted in cases, where more than R5 million in illicit gains was involved and freezing orders amounting to R1.3 billion were obtained against 67 persons,” the minister said.
In the first six months of 2013/14, a total of R149 million was paid into the Criminal Assets Recovery Account (CARA) fund, which was established to redirect the proceeds of criminal activity to enhance the fight against crime. – SAnews.gov.za
