Women were the most likely target of contact crimes in South Africa, with one woman or child raped every 10 minutes, South African opposition Democratic Alliance (DA) leader Tony Leon said on Monday.
As part of the 16 days of activism against women and child abuse, the DA hung up 22 486 pairs of girls’ underwear. This represented the number of rapes of girl babies, toddlers and children that were reported in 2004/05.
Leon noted that altogether there had been 55 000 rape cases reported in 2004/05.
In a speech at Nooitgedacht in Cape Town, Leon said: “60% of all contact crimes in our country are committed against woman.
“If the state is truly concerned with the eradication of woman and child abuse it must, at the very least, ensure that the ranks of government do not harbour offenders.”
He noted that several African National Congress (ANC) officials, some of them mayors, had been accused of rape “and very few appear to have been formally prosecuted”.
“If it does not take credible and consistent action against wrongdoers in its own ranks, it will only promote the perception that there is a gross mismatch between the ANC government’s stated commitment and its action.
He suggested that government should end its policy of early prisoner releases — noting that a convicted child rapist released in June was charged in August with the rape of a three-year old.
A total of 157 prisoners released early have already been re-arrested for other causes.
Leon proposed, secondly, the improvement of resources “for our prevention, protection and prosecution units. We must immediately provide Child Protection Units, Social Development departments and Sexual Offences Courts with the staff and resources they need in order to do their jobs properly.”
Leon said his party’s investigations had revealed that the average case load for detectives at Child Protection Units was 62 rather than the standard 18 cases.
Thirdly, South Africa’s political leaders should begin to lead by example.
“The allegations of rape against former Deputy President Jacob Zuma must be viewed with the utmost seriousness.
“If the allegations stand, they will be a searing indictment of Mr Zuma’s conduct and character, and should permanently prevent him from even holding public office or even high office within his party.
“If, on the other hand, the charges are proven to be false, and can be demonstrably shown to have been instigated by Mr Zuma’s political opponents, as he claims they have, then that, too, will be an indictment of the ANC leadership as a whole and its apparent willingness to use violence against women as a political weapon.”
He added that the Sexual Offences Bill “must be fast-tracked through Parliament as soon as possible. Until the Bill is enacted, and enforced, the right of abused women and children to justice will be compromised.” -I-Net Bridge