Staff Reporter
Free State Police, Roads and Transport MEC Sam Mashinini says the fight against gender-based violence and femicide (GBVF) cannot be left to the police alone because society can play an important role by helping identify perpetrators of this worsening crime and save lives.
“The police can only solve this problem working together with the community,” Mashinini told The Free Stater following the delivery of the State of the Province Address (SOPA) by Premier Sisi Ntombela in which she announced that the province has appointed district coordinators to help the fight against GBVF.
“We have created more closer relationships with the community,” the MEC added.
“If anyone sees an act of possible gender-based violence, that matter must be reported to the police.
“And when a case is reported, one of the big challenges faced by the SA Police Service is that, before the case goes to court, the charges are withdrawn by the victim.
“We believe, before the charges are withdrawn, the police have to be informed.
“The police are not there to separate people – they are there to deal with the crime element.”
Latest data shows that sexual offence cases in the province fell by 2.2 percent in the period between the last quarter of 2019 and the last quarter of 2020.
But this, according to the premier, is no success.
She said in her speech one case of GBVF is one too many.
Free State Director-General Kopung Ralikotsane said during a post-SOPA media briefing that the GBVF district coordinators will also work with the perpetrators so that everyone is involved in fighting against this heinous crime.
“The critical part is that we are going to establish a structure . . . looking at what can be done to assist the perpetrators . . . those that would have repented and would have been released from prison if they were arrested,” said Ralikotsane.
“The intention is to also bring them in so that the GBVF campaigns are not only meant for women and leaders, but also ordinary men.”
GBVF has been described as a shameful shadow pandemic and a human rights tragedy which should be stopped urgently.
The Free State has a safety house and five shelters for victims of gender-based violence.
About 3 811 victims of gender-based violence have been given psychosocial support over the past year and 367 women were admitted to the shelters.
The province also allocated over R3.4 million for the maintenance and improvement of services for shelters dealing with all kinds of violence against women.
In the coming financial year, over R17.6 million will be used for prevention of violence against women and children.