Pretoria – Correctional Services Minister Sibusiso Ndebele says the electronic monitoring of domestic violence offenders can play a big role in protecting victims of this crime.
The department earlier this month launched a GPS electronic monitoring device for awaiting-trial detainees, a move it said was aimed at “enhancing public safety through electronic monitoring”.
Speaking at the Correctional Services’ event for the 16 Days of Activism for No Violence against Women and Children campaign at the Johannesburg Correctional Centre on Wednesday, Ndebele said the GPS electronic monitoring device could help to prevent potentially volatile situations involving offenders.
The watch-like gadget is strapped to the leg of the offender. Once the bracelet is fitted, and set to ‘active’, it cannot be removed without breaking the transmitter, strap or connecting clips.
Should an offender commit any violation, alerts are immediately generated and transmitted. Interference with the equipment, including tampering or failing to charge the receiver, is electronically relayed to the control room.
Ndebele on Wednesday said the device could play a role in helping to curb domestic violence, as the GPS gadget would make it much easier for officers to respond to situations where domestic violence offenders are involved.
“Through electronic monitoring of offenders, we want to protect victims of domestic violence. Should the domestic violence perpetrator start drinking and displaying violent tendencies, the partner could just press a button so that help can be dispatched before anything happens.
“Victims of domestic violence can be given a receiver that alerts them when the perpetrator comes within a set distance of them,” said Ndebele.
He said the device acts as a panic button that can be used to alert officials to impending danger. The electronic monitoring GPS device keeps Correctional Services officials aware of offenders’ movements 24 hours a day, and triggers an alarm at the control room once an offender enters a restricted zone.
“It also acts as a cell phone, enabling officials to contact offenders. The device also helps in monitoring repeat offenders, as it enables the police to know whether a tagged offender was near the scene of a crime,” he said.
Sex crimes
Ndebele said between April and September 2013, of South Africa’s total sentenced offender population, 19 026 inmates (approximately 18%) were serving sentences for sex-related crimes.
Through the 16 Days campaign, the department will raise awareness of rehabilitation programmes geared towards changing the behaviour of offenders convicted of crimes of violence against women and children.
“A series of activities are being undertaken in the 243 correctional centres across the country, to create awareness of the scourge of violence against women and children, as well as the need for correctional services to stand together with communities to contribute towards ending the violence.
“Offenders, victims, correctional officials, communities and various other stakeholders will participate in these activities,” he said.
These include Victim-Offender Dialogues, as well as programmes geared towards enhancing offenders’ development and facilitation of their reintegration back into communities as changed persons. This process embraces the 5Rs - regret, remorse, reconciliation, rehabilitation and reintegration.
“We join the nation in saying the abuse of women and children is a threat to our hard-earned freedom. As we march towards our third decade of freedom, we must intensify our zero tolerance to women and child abuse,” the minister said.
16 Days campaign
The 16 Days of Activism for No Violence against Women and Children is an annual awareness raising campaign observed globally.
The purpose of the campaign is to address policy and legal issues; as well as the prevention of violence against women and children and elimination of all forms of gender based violence.
The campaign takes place annually from the 25th November to 10 December. - SAnews.gov.za
