As South Africa marks yet another 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence (GBV), the Police and Prisons Civil Rights Union (Popcru) has unveiled a stark and troubling reality: many officers involved in combating GBV within the country’s law enforcement and correctional facilities are themselves victims of gender-based violence and femicide (GBVF).
Zamani Mathiso, the Popcru provincial chairperson for the Northern Cape, painted a grim portrait of a toxic culture that pervaded the very institutions meant to safeguard citizens.
“Our protectors cannot protect while they need protection,” Mathiso stated, adding that systematic harassment has infected the sector. Shockingly, accounts of prejudice, the demand for sexual favours, and blatant abuses of power are alarmingly prevalent.
“Officers who dare to speak out face severe repercussions, including suspension, retaliation, and even career-ending consequences,“ he added.
This year’s 16 Days of Activism comes amid what Popcru describes as an ‘institutional crisis’ within the Criminal Justice Cluster (CJC).
Mathiso emphasised the gravity of the situation, remarking that “GBVF is a longstanding issue in South Africa that seems to be growing worse, infiltrating every level of our society”.
He asserted that any effective strategy to combat GBVF must first tackle the deeply embedded issues within the criminal justice system.
The urgency of addressing GBVF is underscored by the latest crime statistics released for the second quarter of 2024.
Despite an overall decline in violent crimes from July to September this year, crimes specifically targeting women and children have sharply escalated, predominantly occurring in domestic environments.
In just three months, the statistics reveal harrowing figures: 315 children were murdered, 490 children suffered attempted murder, and a staggering 1 944 children were assaulted with intent to cause grievous bodily harm (GBH).
The situation for women is equally dire. Of the 957 women murdered during this period, 106 fatalities were linked to instances of domestic violence.
There were also 1 567 attempted murders of women, with 232 occurring in domestic settings, and 14 366 women reported being assaulted with GBH, of which 4 989 were tied to domestic violence. Alarmingly, among the 10 191 rapes reported, 43% (795) involved women victimised by their domestic partners.
Mathiso urged: “These figures point to the impacts of glaring gaps and weaknesses within the entire system’s response to GBVF.”
He called for a fundamental shift in how GBV is handled within law enforcement and correctional facilities, asserting that “no member of law enforcement should face sexual harassment, or feel pressured to use their bodies and trade sexual favours for promotions”.
He rounded off his statement with a resolute demand for transparent accountability, insisting it’s crucial to “name and expose all the perpetrators responsible for these horrendous crimes” and enforce stricter measures to abolish this corrosive culture within the CJC.
The Star