Traditional leaders urged to report rape
EASTERN Cape provincial police commissioner Lieutenant-General Liziwe Ntshinga has called on traditional leaders to report serious crimes like rape instead of prosecuting them in traditional courts.
She made the call while launching the 16 Days of Activism of No Violence Against Women and Children in Mthatha on Thursday.
Traditional leaders have over the years prosecuted rape cases in their traditional courts – which sometimes led to alleged rapists getting off with a slap on the wrist.
In most cases, alleged criminals apologise to their victims with livestock like cattle and sheep.
Ntshinga said while there had been a significant decrease in the number of sexual crimes according to the latest statistics released by police a few months ago, there were still challenges.
She claimed some rape cases were discussed in traditional courts with traditional leaders presiding instead of being reported to the police.
“Rape is not for them [traditional leaders] to prosecute. It is a serious crime and should be reported to the police.”
Ntshinga said alcohol and drug abuse had been identified as the biggest contributors to most sexual crimes.
“The more we do campaigns like this, the more people become informed.”
She said most victims were known to the perpetrators.
“Its mostly an uncle, a father who is the perpetrator. We have also discovered that some children are being sold to older men by their mothers for money.”
However, most traditional leaders have been cooperating with police by immediately calling them to arrest serious crime offenders.
The event was also used to celebrate the achievements of police members within the cluster who had excelled, or in soccer and athletics.
The event was hosted by the Women’s Network Forum in partnership with Men for Change members.
Among those honoured was Lieutenant-Colonel Saphokazi Dyala, the support head at the Ngqeleni police station, who walked away with the best cluster champion award.
She said she was happy to have received the accolade.
Mthatha division’s director of public prosecution, Advocate Barry Madolo, said the onus was on everyone to assist the police in fighting ills such as women and child abuse.
The event was also used to bid farewell to former Mthatha cluster commander Major-General Zisakhele Dyantyi, who has moved to another post in Komani.
“He [Dyantyi] contributed a lot [in decreasing crime in Mthatha cluster], hence we took him to Komani. There are problems that side and we know he will excel,” said Ntshinga. — sikhon@dispatch.co.za