Bheki Cele, the police minister, has called for the system to be more accommodating of victims whose lives have been ruined by crime, according to Times Live.
Cele stated during a Crime Prevention Izimbizo in Umlazi, KwaZulu-Natal, that it is clear that change is required when more is done for offenders than victims of crime.
He claims that while prisoners are provided with food, shelter, and educational opportunities, little is done for people whose lives have been flipped upside down by crime.
Cele hosted a men’s dialogue last month in Khayelitsha, Cape Town, where he urged police to stop advising women reporting cases of gender-based violence (GBV) to negotiate with their abusers.
“We must evolve. We require a government that is more sympathetic to victims than perpetrators of crime. Human rights activists are more concerned with perpetrators,” he said.
Cele stated that he was pushing for policy changes to correct this.
“I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: when a woman comes to the police station to report abuse, it’s her last hope.” Please don’t send her anywhere else. Tell her not to go negotiate with her abuser. “Help that woman,” Cele said.
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“She has arrived at the station.” Don’t tell her to leave. Please assist that lady. You’re her only hope. Handle young officers who further abuse our women by turning them away, management. They are supposed to take a statement from that person and arrest them.”
He stated that men should join the fight against GBV.
“According to crime statistics released in December, January, and February, approximately 10,000 women were raped in three months.” Men rape these women, and men must provide solutions to this problem. This is why we’ve arrived.
“All of the complaints about police work and other things are secondary.” What I want to know from you, gentlemen, is what we do with men who commit such crimes.”
Prisons are 33.3% overcrowded, and the country must look beyond policing.
“South Africa cannot be used as a prison.” The warrant for arrest cannot be issued indefinitely. Something else is required. Other things and ways must be discovered,” he stated.
