Private portals to report sex offences in force

Defence Minister Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula’s task team on sexual exploitation and abuse has set up a hotline and e-mail address to report incidents and for additional information on previously reported incidents.

The hotline number is 0800021811 and the e-mail address is Reportsos@dod.mil.za.

The ministerial task team, headed by Thoko Mpumlwana, deputy chair of the Commission for Gender Equality, has said “levels of sexual offences currently reported do not reflect the levels of sexual offences in the rest of the country”.

“The task team has heard some incidents are either reported to a superior and not referred appropriately, or not reported at all for fear of victimisation.

“For the task team to gain as much information as possible, it has established a hotline and e-mail address solely to hear complaints of sexual offences, including sexual harassment. The hotline and e-mail address are administered by the task team and any information received will be treated confidentially.

“What action will be taken will depend on the nature of the information and requests from the complainant. Where relevant, the complainant will be referred to appropriate institutions internally or externally to the department.”

The notice on the Reserve Force website says: “The department of defence has a zero tolerance policy on sexual offenders and strong action will be taken against perpetrators”.

The task team’s other members are Mapisa-Nqakula; Deputy Defence and Military Veterans minister Thabang Makwetla; Britta Rotman, a legally trained professional with knowledge in sexual abuse; Dr Mongezi Guma, a consultant on human rights, management and organisational development; and Major-General Daphne Nodola, who will guide the team on dealing with military structures. – Defence Web