Sex attacks up over holidays

Rape increase related to seasonal activities

LONGER days, warmer weather and busier social lives contributed to a slight increase in sexual crimes over the festive season, with five rapes a day reported in Nelson Mandela Bay.

The Thuthuzela Care Centre at Dora Nginza Hospital in Zwide, Port Elizabeth – a government victim support centre – recorded 139 rapes last month and officials had already recorded 25 rapes so far this year around the Bay by late Tuesday.

This figure is up from the four rapes on average every day – one rape every six hours – recorded between April and December last year.

Specialist state prosecutor Advocate Linda le Roux said figures “interestingly show rapes have a seasonal pattern”, with figures slightly up during summer.

“There are numerous contributing factors related to this. In summer the sun sets later and people are far more active as it is warmer.

“During the festive season we can easily say almost 70% of the reported rapes are related to al- cohol and originated from bars, house parties and taverns. This includes women walking home by themselves or meeting a stranger at a bar or party.

“Spiking of beverages with a so-called date rape drug is all too prevalent.”

Le Roux said there was a decrease in activity in winter as people stayed home as the sun set earlier and it was colder.

“If you analyse the figures you can clearly see that during the June and July months [winter] the number of rape cases drops

‘ We are concerned about elderly women and kids becoming victims

to below 100 per month.

“In the December and January periods we see a sharp spike with cases reaching up to as many as 150 rapes per month during these periods.”

Le Roux said family friends or even relatives – people known to the victim’s family – were responsible for most of the 475 rape cases reported last year involving children, with those between six and 10 years old most affected.

“Often we find it is a neighbour or adult who has lured the child into the house by asking them to go to the nearby shops or to run an errand for them,” she said.

Trauma councillor John Preller agreed with Le Roux and said it was “heartbreaking and very worrying for any parent”.

“You can see the increase in rapes in the summer period and school holidays.

“In addition to this we have seen another trend where youngsters are more inclined to go to house parties which mostly remain unsupervised and attract a large number of youths. At these parties alcohol is consumed, among other things, which all play a contributing role in rapes.”

Preller encouraged strict and increased parental supervision.

Provincial police spokeswoman Brigadier Marinda Mills said Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offences Unit detectives were working tirelessly to curb rapes.

“Awareness campaigns to educate the public have been embarked upon by our members.

“We are very concerned about elderly women and young children becoming victims of sexual offences and have specially focused on awareness at schools and clinics,” she said.