President announces plan to fast-track GBVF cases

In a bid to ensure that cases involving violence against women and children are not stalled, President Cyril Ramaphosa has announced a four-point recovery plan aimed at improving case processing and ensuring perpetrators are brought to book.

Addressing the nation recently, the President said he had directed Acting Minister of Police Professor Firoz Cachalia and Minister of Justice and Constitutional Development Mmamoloko Kubayi to undertake a national case-recovery operation focused on unresolved murders, attempted murders, rapes and serious sexual offences involving women and children.

“Within 60 days, this audit must identify the number and age of unresolved cases, cases awaiting forensic evidence, cases in which suspects have been identified but not arrested, and cases in which investigative or prosecutorial action has been unreasonably delayed,” the President said.

Each plan must identify the outstanding action, the responsible official and the deadline for moving the case forward.

President Ramaphosa also directed Acting Minister Cachalia, Acting National Commissioner of Police Lieutenant General Puleng Dimpane and relevant forensic authorities to present, within 60 days, a funded plan to reduce forensic backlogs and establish turnaround standards for priority gender-based violence and femicide (GBVF) cases.

“The plan must set out the size and age of the backlog, shortages of personnel and equipment, the resources required and the dates by which the backlog will be reduced.

“Priority forensic samples in cases involving the rape or murder of women and children must be ring-fenced for urgent processing. Progress against the turnaround standards must be reported publicly every quarter,” he said.

The President also announced that every municipality must begin a women’s safety audit without delay.

“High-risk areas must be identified in collaboration with provincial governments and the police. Within 60 days, these audits must identify broken streetlights, overgrown public spaces, abandoned buildings, unsafe transport routes and facilities, poorly secured parks and other conditions that place women at risk.

“Within 90 days of completing the audit, the most urgent hazards must have been addressed or included in a funded implementation plan with clear completion dates.”

President Ramaphosa has further directed Minister of Trade, Industry and Competition Parks Tau, working with the Ministers of Health, Social Development, Police and Cooperative Governance, to submit a coordinated legislative and enforcement package to Cabinet within 60 days to reduce alcohol-related violence.

“Harmful alcohol use is a significant aggravating factor in interpersonal violence and must be addressed as part of our wider prevention effort,” he said.

Attitudes and role players

The President said attitudes that regard women as inferior and the belief that men have the right to control women contribute to the problem.

“It begins when a man refuses to accept the word no. We must confront the uncomfortable truth that the primary GBV hotspot is in the home and in interpersonal relationships.”

He said preventing violence against women must begin at home.