RAPES BY EC POLICE SHOW INCREASE
Deaths in police custody in the province dropped to 28
Rape by policemen is on the increase in the province.
In the last financial year, police officers raped 15 Eastern Cape civilians. In eight of the cases the officers were on duty at the time and probably in uniform.
The number of police rapes rose by three from the previous year’s 12.
These facts are contained in an annual report tabled in parliament by the Independent Police Investigating Directorate (Ipid).
These provincial statistics run contrary to the national trend, which saw a 60% decrease in the number of police rapes reported to Ipid, according to the watchdog body’s executive director, Robert McBride.
None of the Eastern Cape rapes took place in police custody, McBride said.
National police spokesperson Brigadier Vishnu Naidoo said they would respond after they had studied the report.
Ipid reported that in the previous financial year on-duty Eastern Cape officers raped five people and off-duty, seven.
The Eastern Cape is the fourth worst province in South Africa for this kind of state atrocity.
Gauteng was the worst with 21 police rapes.
The Western Cape was next with 20 and then Free State at 18. The report was based on incidents recorded between April 1 2017 and March 31 2018.
Eastern Cape police killed 23 fewer people this year – 65 people died at the hands of officers compared to 85 in the previous year.
The number of incidents in which provincial police killed people also decreased.
From 67 deadly moments, it was down to 55.
The report reveals that in the Eastern Cape a total of 706 cases were opened against the police, including accusations of torture, assault and killings.
This is a decline by 214 cases from 920 the previous year.
The province is fourth worst, with the Western Cape the worst (1,198), then KwaZuluNatal (990) and Gauteng (962).
There was a glimmer of hope in the Ipid statistics when the organisation reported that deaths in police custody in the province had dropped to 28, eight fewer than the previous year’s 36.
However, police assault and torture of people show no sign of slowing down. It is up from 450 to 458.
The vast majority of these cases were assaults, with the number of people being tortured by police at eight, down from 16.
In his foreword to the report police minister Bheki Cele, on the subject of the rape statistics, said: “The tabling of this annual report takes place during a time when violence against women and children is occupying the public discourse.
“As a ministry, we will be intensifying our fight against this scourge, which continues to mar our democracy.
“Women and children should feel and be safe in line with the vision set out in National Development Plan (NDP) 2030.”
Cele's deputy Bongani Mkongi said: “Ipid’s structural and operational independence are paramount in keeping the police clean.
“The country is in the grip of public protests, which is a concern to the ministry of police.
“This ministry supports the work of the Ipid and we will continue to provide oversight to ensure that the Ipid maintains independence.”
Senior researcher at the Institute for Security Studies Dr Johan Burger said the Eastern Cape had fared well compared to other provinces which had higher numbers.
"Rape by a police officer remains a serious offence, as does torture.
“But the Eastern Cape had relatively low figures while death in police custody and death as a result of police action actually saw decreases.
“If you look at rape by police in the Eastern Cape, there were 15 where nationally there were 105 incidents. There was zero rape in police custody.
“Looking at this report I would say the province fared relatively well compared to the situation nationally.
“All of these crimes remain a concern, they should not happen. But comparatively, the Eastern Cape looks better than some of the other provinces.”
All of these crimes remain a concern, they should not happen