Praise for convictions and victim support
THE Gauteng provincial legislature’s portfolio committee on community safety has lauded the Department of Community Safety for its role in supporting the victims of gender-based violence (GBV).
Portfolio committee chairperson Mapiti Matsena also congratulated the Department of Community Safety for the conviction of several people charged with crimes related to the violation of women.
“Though the committee noted significant progress in the convictions of perpetrators of GBV, it expressed concerns at the continuous increase of crimes against women and children. It called on the department to employ a multifaceted approach to address the underlying causes and to help minimise this,” Matsena said.
He welcomed the conviction of Lebogang Mokoena, who was found guilty on 43 counts: 13 rapes, 9 kidnappings, 9 pointing of a firearm, 2 aiding and forcing another person to commit a sexual offence on another person, resulting in 340 years and 13 life sentences in the Quantum rape case. Mokoena was sentenced to an additional life sentence plus 35 years for kidnapping, rape and robbery with aggravating circumstances.
Matsena also praised the Department of Community Safety for its role in assisting the 7-year-old girl violated at the Dros Restaurant.
Ikhaya Lethemba offered her full psychosocial support.
After the murder of seven family members in Vlakfontein, Ikhaya Lethemba offered psychosocial interventions to the family.
The Johannesburg High Court found the suspect, Shadrack Xidada Chauke, guilty. He was responsible for the crime spree of serial rape cases of 60 charges, including 24 rapes, 2 attempted rapes, 5 assaults, 13 robberies, 8 housebreakings, 5 kidnappings and 2 attempted murders. He was sentenced to 23 life sentences and 245 years.
Matsena said his committee had noted that the department had provided support to victims of GBV by setting up victim-friendly rooms and encouraging reporting of GBV cases in communities and higher learning institutions. “The committee had, however, noted through an independent verification study, that some police stations, such as Ratanda, Vaal Marina and Bronkhorstspruit, lacked suitable office space and furniture for their victim-friendly rooms. The committee recommended the department ensure that these stations and all others make the necessary provision and suitable space,” Matsena said.