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The government has identified the top 30 gender-based violence (GBV) hot spots in its efforts to respond to what Police Minister Bheki Cele described as the “second pandemic”.
“The list was compiled based on nine key variables, including the number of cases reported to SAPS during the 2019/2020 financial year,” Cele said in a briefing on Tuesday.
Cele spoke after the country went to alert level 1 at midnight Sunday.
The cases analyzed include rape, human trafficking for sexual crimes, kidnapping for sexual crimes and domestic trafficking.
Furthermore, the reported domestic violence figures of murder, rape, attempted murder and assault were also considered when compiling the list.
“The list of hotspots also includes eight other variables, such as calls received related to domestic violence and gender violence.
“We also included data from victim support services, such as Thuthuzela centers, health centers and other data from other departments that paint a picture of gender-based violence in a particular area,” explained Cele.
1. Delft 16. Dobsonville
2. Mamelodi East 17. Bloemspruit
3. Tembisa 18. Diepsloot
4. Umlazi 19. Mitchells Plain
5. Empangeni 20. Ikageng
6. Month 21. Help
7. Inanda 22. KwaMashu
8. Temba 23. Don’t worry
9. Khayelitsha 24. Kopanong
10. Self-made 25. Honeydew
11. Alexandra 26. Kraaifontein
12. Moroka 27. Gugulethu
13. Mthatha 28. Orange Farm
14. Mfuleni 29. Butterworth
15. Plessislaer 30. Bellville
The Interministerial Committee on GBV is expected to elaborate on these critical points.
Cele, however, maintained that the scourge of GBV continues to be a priority crime for the SAPS, which will continue to have sustained public and community awareness campaigns in the identified areas.
All police stations in the identified areas are expected to have a desk permanently dedicated to gender-based violence.
Cele said this should not be limited to all access points, but should be the norm at all stations.
In addition, Cele added that a medium to long-term goal for the police is to address the backlog of gender-based violence cases and to re-examine “unsolved cases.”
She also said that while the police alone will not “rid this country of this evil,” SAPS will continue to strengthen its response to gender-based violence.
“The approach must promote accountability and ensure that all victims and survivors of gender-based violence have access to justice.
“Of course, we are aware that identifying these hotspots does not mean that GBV is limited only in these areas.
“That is why provinces are strongly encouraged to seek their own localized hotspots and ensure victim-centered service delivery in all corners of the country,” concluded Cele.
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