‘We are not treated fairly by the police’
MEMBERS of Free Gender, a lesbian organisation based in Khayelitsha marched to Harare police station yesterday to highlight what they said was unfair treatment of rape victims by police stations.
The organisation demanded the police stations give full information to victims when they opened cases, transport of rape victims in the evening after medical checks to avoid sleeping at Thuthuzela centre, waiting for detectives.
They also demanded that investigating officers meet survivors in the Harare police station when the cases are opened.
Free Gender chairperson Lwethu Kala said numerous memorandums had been submitted to the police station but there had been no outcomes, while rape survivors faced secondary victimisation from the police processes. “In August 2020, Constance, a lesbian, was raped at eNdlovini. The rapist was caught by the community and handed over to Harare police station, but he was released without any contact with the victim.
“On November 26, she was called at Site B at 8am by the investigating officer but the investigating officer never arrived. It was only after she sought help that a statement was obtained in January this year and she is still waiting for justice. She has received no calls and no update from the investigating officer.
“We believed that if all these cases were handled at Harare police station, it would be easy for the families and survivors to follow up their cases without any confusion… that has not been the case,” said Kala.
Harare Community Policing Forum chairperson Funeka Soldaat said there was more that police could do to improve services to the LGBTQIA+ community.
“We believe that if the services were offered in one roof it would be easy to follow up on the cases. Having the FCS (Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offences) unit in Site B while a statement is taken in Harare has created a lot of confusion with loss of hope.
“They are not told that cases are transferred to Site B and this and that is worrying considering the rampant sexual victimisation of lesbians in our community. They are targeted because some men want to prove a point that homosexuality can be corrected.
“Police need training on ensuring that they treat rape cases from the LGBTQIA+ with utmost professionalism that it deserves,” she said.
Harare police station communications officer Nosiphiwo Mtengwane said the station was not aware of what transpires after rape victims were sent to Thuthuzela centres as sexual assault cases were transferred to Site B police station.
She said police management would study the memorandum and revert back about the demands within seven days.