Gauteng Committee calls for GBV victims to stand firm against case withdrawals
The Portfolio Committee on Community Safety in the Gauteng Provincial Legislature has issued an urgent appeal to victims of crime, particularly those affected by gender-based violence (GBV), to resist the temptation of withdrawing their cases against alleged perpetrators.
The Gauteng Portfolio Committee on Community Safety has raised urgent concerns over the soaring number of gender-based violence (GBV) cases being withdrawn — a trend it warns is undermining justice and enabling abusers to walk free.
The committee raised this issue during its oversight visit to the Fochville Police Station recently, followed by a stakeholder engagement session at Greenspark Community Hall.
During these engagements, the committee was alarmed by a report from the Station Commander indicating that 64 GBV cases had been withdrawn by victims, allowing alleged perpetrators to evade justice and remain a threat within their communities.
It is revealed that police reports indicate that many victims are succumbing to financial pressures and coercive familial influences, with perpetrators enticing them to 'resolve matters privately'.
It is also explained that this not only places victims at increased risk of further violence but also erodes the foundational integrity of the criminal justice system.
The repercussions of withdrawing serious charges such as GBV extend to facilitating repeat offences, which can lead to heightened violence, including rape, assault, and even murder.
There is also a call for communities to rally behind victims and advocate for due process to prevail, highlighting that this troubling pattern is not confined to Fochville; rather, it is an emergent concern extending throughout Gauteng, which threatens the progress being made towards reducing crime rates and ensuring justice for survivors of such grievous acts.
During their engagement, the committee appealed to various stakeholders—traditional leaders, community-based organisations, and faith-based institutions—to play an active role in educating their communities about the importance of reporting GBV and pursuing justice.
'Victims must be protected and supported, not silenced or coerced. As part of its ongoing Focused Intervention Study on SAPS compliance with the Domestic Violence Act, the Committee will continue to engage stakeholders and monitor police stations across Gauteng to ensure accountability and improved service delivery in the fight against GBV.' the committee highlighted.
Saturday Star
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