DA:Police Commissioner must restore public confidence in SAPS’ ability to protect women

Imogen Vollenhoven

23 February 2013

The Democratic Alliance on Friday said the South African Police Service is subjecting women to secondary victimisation of the worst kind. 

The DA has called on National Police Commissioner Riah Phiyega to take urgent steps to restore public confidence in the police and to ensure that those who abuse that confidence be arrested. 

DA Shadow Minister of Police Dianne Kohler Barnard said During a presentation on SAPS compliance with the DVA to the Police Portfolio Committee last year, the IPID revealed that around 35% of the complaints it receives relate to the failure of the SAPS to arrest an abuser, and 17% to their failure to arrest an alleged transgressor where an arrest warrant has been issued.

Barnard  adds that she be writing to Commissioner Phiyega today calling for her to take these urgent steps to restore public confidence in the SAPS’ ability to protect women:

Barnard  also said that Women must feel confident that those who are there to protect them are properly trained and will not subject them to secondary victimisation or violence.

Barnard said as police commissioner, Ms Phiyega must take the lead in ensuring that all members of the SAPS provide the necessary protection to women who turn to them for help.

Barnard  furthmore said South Africans cannot go back to fearing a uniform they should be able to for assistance.