Victims urged not to withdraw gender-based violence cases
In a statement on Sunday, the Portfolio Committee said this urgent call follows growing concern over a troubling trend that threatens to undermine efforts to combat GBV and ensure justice for victims.
The committee raised this issue during an oversight visit to the Fochville Police Station on Friday, 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engagements, the committee was alarmed by a report from the Station Commander indicating that 64 GBV cases had been withdrawn by victims, allowing alleged perpetrators to evade justice and remain a threat within their communities,' the portfolio committee said.
According to police reports, these withdrawals are often driven by financial inducements from perpetrators and pressure from families, who encourage victims to 'resolve matters privately'.
'The committee strongly condemns this practice, warning that it not only places victims at further risk but also undermines the integrity of the criminal justice system. The withdrawal of serious cases such as GBV enables repeat offenses including rape, assault, and even murder.
'The committee urges communities to stand with victims and allow the law to take its course,' the portfolio committee said.
Furthermore, the committee emphasised that this pattern is not isolated to Fochville but is emerging as a province-wide concern, threatening progress in reducing crime and securing justice for survivors.
'The committee calls on all stakeholders including traditional leaders, community-based organisations, and faith-based institutions to actively educate communities on the importance of reporting GBV and pursuing justice. Victims must be protected and supported, not silenced or coerced,' the statement read.
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. – SAnews.gov.za
At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading!
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Star
an hour ago
- The Star
'I will die for this badge': Who is Lt Gen Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi?
Hope Ntanzi | Published 9 hours ago KwaZulu-Natal Police Commissioner, Lieutenant General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi's vow to defend the SAPS badge, even with his life, has sparked national debate, making him a fearless symbol of resistance against political interference in policing. Image: DOCTOR NGCOBO/INDEPENDENT NEWSPAPERS Step on the wrong side of the law, and he will deal with you. KwaZulu-Natal's Provincial Police Commissioner, Lieutenant-General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi, is no stranger to headlines, dropping bombs left, right and centre. Mkhwanazi has long been regarded as a no-nonsense law enforcer with an unflinching stance on corruption. His latest public outburst has taken his profile to new heights. Once known mainly within policing circles, his name and face have now captured the public imagination, with many South Africans using his image as their display picture and hailing him as a fearless symbol of integrity. This comes after an explosive press briefing where he declared he was 'combat ready' to defend the integrity of the badge, even if it cost him his life. According to the SAPS, Mkhwanazi joined the South African Police Service as a student constable in 1993. He rose through the ranks to Lieutenant General in 2011. ''Before being appointed acting provincial commissioner for KwaZulu-Natal, Mkhwanazi occupied several positions within the Service, including head of the Special Task Force (STF), Divisional Commissioner of Human Resource Development, and acting National Commissioner of Police.'' He holds a B-Tech degree in Policing as well as a National Diploma in Police Administration. His words, directed at Police Minister Senzo Mchunu, ignited a national conversation about political interference in law enforcement, sparking intense debate. 'I am combat ready. I will die for this badge. I will not back down,' Mkhwanazi told the media during a press conference in Durban on Sunday. This statement has since gone viral and turned him into a symbol of bravery and resistance for many on social media. At the centre of the storm is a deepening rift between Mkhwanazi and Mchunu, following the controversial disbandment of the KZN political killings task team, a unit that had been investigating high-profile assassinations in the province. Mkhwanazi, who was clad in the brown uniform of the STF and heavily armed with security, claims the task team was disbanded without his consultation and hinted at political interference from individuals close to Mchunu. 'Someone whispered to the minister to remove the team,he didn't consult me or the National Commissioner,' said Mkhwanazi. The fallout is the latest chapter in what observers now describe as a 'dangerous power play' within South Africa's law enforcement hierarchy. Mkhwanazi, who has been wearing his police boots for over 30 years and once held a top position of the acting National Commissioner, has earned a reputation for internal discipline and for publicly confronting institutional rot. His previous decision to suspend crime intelligence boss Richard Mdluli in 2012 for alleged misconduct showcased his willingness to challenge powerful figures. In March this year, Mchunu lodged a formal complaint with the Independent Police Investigative Directorate (IPID), accusing Mkhwanazi of interfering in the arrest of a correctional services official with alleged links to a drug cartel. However, Mkhwanazi dismissed the probe as a smear campaign designed to undermine his efforts to tackle politically connected crime networks. 'Every time I touch someone powerful, there is a backlash. This is not the first time they've tried to silence me,' he said. The investigation sparked outrage from police unions and political parties alike. The uMkhonto weSizwe Party, the EFF, and several civic organisations rallied behind Mkhwanazi, with some demanding Mchunu's resignation and the reinstatement of the task team. Mchunu has maintained a cautious tone throughout, recently telling the media. 'The decision on the renewal of Lt Gen Mkhwanazi's contract lies with the National Commissioner, not me.' However, that hasn't stopped speculation that Mchunu and others in senior government circles are lobbying for Mkhwanazi's removal ahead of the end of his term. In a 2024 interview, Mkhwanazi made it clear he believes provincial police commissioners should have more authority to act independently, especially in politically volatile regions like KZN. 'We are not politicians. We are law enforcement. If crime has a political connection, that doesn't mean we stop doing our jobs,' he told the newspaper, Mail & Guardian. Public sentiment is sharply divided. While some civil society leaders have called for calm and institutional accountability, others have rallied behind him as a symbol of resistance against political interference in the SAPS. Forensic investigator Paul O'Sullivan, however, criticised Mkhwanazi's approach. 'I want that man to fall, and the sooner, the better,' citing what he called dangerous grandstanding and factional loyalties.' Mchunu has however denied allegations of political interference made by Mkhwanazi, calling them 'wild' and 'baseless.' Responding to claims that he disbanded the political killings task team and interfered in SAPS operations, Mchunu said: 'I will never allow my integrity, that of the Ministry or SAPS, to be undermined by insinuations made without evidence.' He confirmed that the commissioner's remarks would be reviewed and that appropriate action would be considered: 'All these public statements require an urgent, transparent investigation on a proper platform.' Mchunu reaffirmed his commitment to the rule of law and tackling serious crimes, especially in high-crime provinces like KZN, Gauteng, Eastern Cape, and Western Cape. [email protected] Get your news on the go, click here to join the IOL News WhatsApp channel IOL Politics
IOL News
4 hours ago
- IOL News
News you should know tonight: Top 5 stories you may have missed on July 7, 2025
Questions are mounting over the likelihood and sincerity of any investigation into allegations raised by KZN police head General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi, amid concerns about political bias and systemic corruption. Good evening, IOL News family! It's Monday, July 7, 2025, and it's time for a wrap of the biggest headlines making waves in South Africa and beyond. Don't forget to join the IOL WhatsApp Channel to stay in tune, informed, and in the know. Doubts surround potential probe into allegations of police corruption Questions are mounting over the likelihood and sincerity of any investigation into allegations raised by KZN police head General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi, amid concerns about political bias and systemic corruption. To read on, click here. Murder of Ekurhuleni auditor tied to probe into R2bn electricity billing scandal The murder of Mpho Mafole, the group divisional head for corporate and forensic audits at the City of Ekurhuleni municipality, has sent shockwaves through the city. To read on, click here. Ramaphosa urged to make the allegations against Mchunu his top priority upon return from Brazil President Cyril Ramaphosa has been urged to make the allegations lobbied against Police Minister Senzo Mchunu by KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Commissioner, Lieutenant General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi his top priority when he returns to the country. To read on, click here. Bottom of the bottle: SAPS vows action after drunk-on-duty allegation goes viral The South African Police Service (SAPS) has confirmed that an urgent investigation is under way following the circulation of a widely viewed video on TikTok, which appears to show a uniformed police officer allegedly under the influence of alcohol while on read on, click here. Analysts warn of a policing crisis as Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi claims of corruption rock SAPS Analysts warn that South Africa stands at a perilous crossroads as shocking revelations of police sabotage and corruption threaten to unravel the very fabric of the policing system. To read on, click here. Get your news on the go, click here to join the IOL News WhatsApp channel. IOL News
Eyewitness News
6 hours ago
- Eyewitness News
FROM OUR ARCHIVES: Mkhwanazi reveals how 'Brown Mogotsi' tried to meddle in SAPS affairs
JOHANNESBURG - In April this year, Eyewitness News sat down with KwaZulu-Natal Police Commissioner Lieutenant-General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi to speak about IPID's probe into his involvement in the arrest of a correctional services official in northern KwaZulu-Natal. During the interview, Mkhwanazi spoke in detail about an individual from the North West, known as Oupa 'Brown' Mogotsi, who claimed to be a close associate of Police Minister Senzo Mchunu. KZN's top cop described how Mogotsi allegedly contacted him and began meddling in police business and fuelling tensions among the hierarchy of the organisation in September last year. On Sunday, in an unprecedented move, Mkhwanazi held a press briefing in Durban where he put forward damning allegations about how the SAPS in Gauteng, including Mchunu, were complicit in protecting alleged criminals with links to the drug cartel. One such person was Vuzimusi "Cat" Matlala, a tender tycoon, who is known for his alleged involvement in the criminal underworld and who previously scored multi-million rand tenders in the Tembisa Hospital scandal, as well as a R360 million SAPS tender, which was subsequently cancelled earlier this year. Matlala was arrested earlier this year on charges of conspiracy to commit murder following an alleged hit on his socialite ex-girlfriend, Tebogo Thobejane. Matlala was arrested in May on charges of attempted murder and conspiracy to commit murder. The attempted hit on Thobejane happened in October 2023 at a club in Sandton.
