An intensive police awareness campaign against sexual offences-related crimes has yielded positive results with a decline in the number of sexual offences crimes registered in the country.
According to the quarterly crime statistics, reflecting on crimes that occurred between 01 October 2023 to 31 December 2023, sexual offences crimes, including rape sexual assault and contact sexual offences, registered an overall 1.7% decline during the period.
Presenting the crime stats on Friday, Police Minister, General Bheki Cele, said rape declined by 1.7% with six provinces, including Gauteng, Eastern Cape, KwaZulu-Natal, Limpopo, Northern Cape, and Western Cape, every registering a decline in this crime category.
The report also showed that more than 2 400 suspect raids led to 4 264 suspects being arrested for gender-based violence and femicide- related (GBVF) crimes, including rape and sexual assault.
A total of 112 life sentences were handed down to 89 rapists, while 64 rapists and GBVF perpetrators were each sentenced to 20 years and above imprisonment.
One hundred and seventy-two rapists and GBVF perpetrators were sentenced 10 to 19 years imprisonment, and 1 to 9 years imprisonment were handed down to 261 rapists and GBVF perpetrators.
Cele noted that the battle against GBVF crimes remains a priority for the men and women in blue.
More awareness programs are being conducted by the department’s social crime prevention and Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offences Units (FCS), which translates to an increase in the reporting of these crimes.
“What is most encouraging is that Inanda – which has always been known as the rape capital of the country – has also seen a slight reduction in the number of rape cases by registering 20 counts lower than the same period under review. This goes to present that our FCS teams are proving to be acting decisively against those who are perpetrating rape crimes,” Cele said.
However, he said it is of remarkable concern that the majority of rape cases were committed at the victims’ residences.
Significant progress in finalisation of DNA cases
Meanwhile, the report has highlighted a significant progress in the finalisation rate of DNA cases and the eradication of the historic DNA backlog, which is currently standing at zero, from 251 000 in the 2021/2022 financial year.
Cele said the expansion of the DNA lab in Gqerberha, Eastern Cape, which was opened by President Cyril Ramaphosa in August 2023, has contributed immensely to the processing of more DNA samples in the country.
“All these efforts believe contributed positively to the SAPS battle against Gender-Based Violence and Femicide cases. For example, the NPA and SAPS project has led to more than 40 000 DNA forensic reports being finalised to ensure that cases of GBVF are prioritised,” Cele said. – SAnews.gov.za
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