Systematic police failures have resulted in 84 more cases of gender-based violence (GBV) being struck off court rolls during the third quarter of 2023.
Also read: GBV: 89 cases struck off court roll due to police inefficiencies
As reported by the Western Cape Department of Police Oversight and Community Safety’s (POCS) Court Watching Briefs (CWB) unit, 256 cases at 10 courts were monitored between October 2023 and December 2023.
These 10 courts have jurisdiction over 35 South African Police Services (SAPS) stations across the province. All 265 cases were struck off the court roll due to systemic inefficiencies in the SAPS.
Of these, 85 (32%) were related to GBV. In total, 174 GBV cases were struck off the roll between April and December 2023 due to SAPS’ inefficiencies.
‘These statistics are an indictment on the SAPS, its leadership and the entire criminal justice system. The very authority which is tasked to serve and protect citizens are dismally failing them, and this is largely in poor communities where the most vulnerable live,’ Western Cape Premier Alan Winde said in a statement.
‘GBV is an epidemic and it continues to fester in our society leaving our women and children at risk when those accused are never held accountable.’
‘What is even more concerning is that these numbers only represent a sample of the cases in the system, which means there could be further failures and injustices being perpetuated. Everyone in the criminal justice system including SAPS and the National Prosecuting Authority needs to step up to ensure that people see the system work for them.’
The monitored courts are Athlone, Atlantis, Bellville, Blue Downs, Khayelitsha, Kuils River, Mitchells Plain, Philippi, Wynberg, and Paarl.
The SAPS stations attached to these cases include:
- Atlantis
- Belhar
- Brackenfell
- Claremont
- Delft
- Diep River
- Grassy Park
- Gugulethu
- Harare
- Hout Bay
- Khayelitsha
- Klapmuts
- Kleinvlei
- Kraaifontein
- Kuilsriver
- Lansdowne
- Lentegeur
- Lingelethu West
- Manenberg
- Mbekweni
- Mfuleni
- Mitchells Plain
- Mowbray
- Nyanga
- Paarl
- Paarl East
- Philadelphia
- Philippi
- Philippi East
- Ravensmead
- Rondebosch
- Samora Machel
- Steenberg
- Wynberg
The top three SAPS stations where cases were struck off the roll were:
- Atlantis (17)
- Kleinvlei (11)
- Kraaifontein (9)
Reagen Allen, the Western Cape’s MEC for police oversight and community safety, welcomes the sanctions imposed against SAPS members for incomplete investigations.
‘I note that actions have been taken by SAPS where necessary, to address these failures. Some, which I welcome are the seventeen (17) sanctions imposed against SAPS members for incomplete investigations, six (6) warrants of arrests issued and one (1) individual that has been found guilty.’
‘It is however deeply concerning that twelve (12) matters were withdrawn by complainants, which also led to cases being struck off the roll,’ he adds.
‘We will engage the GBV Transversal Forum to increase advocacy to vulnerable groups around the scourge of GBV and why perpetrators should be arrested and prosecuted.’
Reagen says he is awaiting feedback from the SAPS Provincial Commissioner, Lieutenant General Thembisile Patekile and the Western Cape Director of Public Prosecutions, Advocate Nicolette Bell.
‘We cannot have people suffer in this manner and we have to find ways to bring about an immediate turnaround. Part of the reason why we initiated the CWB is to ensure that there is justice for all victims and that as a provincial government, we do everything we can to make this province safer for our residents.’
Also read:
GBV stats highlight failures of plans to address the scourge
Picture: Brenton Geach / Gallo Images