The Democratic Alliance has written to Acting Police Minister Firoz Cachalia requesting accurate and detailed statistics on crimes against women and children. The party also wants a firm publication date for corrected figures if the South African Police Service cannot provide them in November. This request follows President Cyril Ramaphosa's announcement of a four-point plan to address gender-based violence and femicide.
The DA's call for reliable figures is linked to the government's plans to tackle forensic backlogs and identify resources needed for its response. According to DA police spokesperson Lisa Schickerling, shortcomings in how information is recorded make it harder to measure the scale of violence, direct resources, and assess whether interventions are working.
The party's concerns include duplicate counting, inconsistent recording of victims' ages and sex, and problems linking victims to charges. The DA has set out requests for corrected data but has not announced new official statistics or an agreed release date. The party also wants subsequent crime-statistics releases to break down data on women and children consistently.
President Ramaphosa announced a four-point plan to address gender-based violence and femicide last week. The plan aims to strengthen the response to GBVF, improve support for victims, and enhance prevention efforts. The DA's request for accurate statistics is seen as a crucial step in implementing this plan effectively.
ANC Women's League national executive committee member Boitumelo Moiloa has welcomed Ramaphosa's plan but called for dedicated budgets to combat GBVF. Moiloa made the remarks during a national day of prayer and memorial at the Alberton Civic Centre in Ekurhuleni. She emphasized that municipalities and government departments should do more to address the violence.
The DA's request for corrected GBVF statistics and a release deadline is part of a broader effort to address the issue. The party's concerns about data shortcomings have been echoed by other stakeholders, who argue that accurate statistics are essential for developing effective interventions. The government's response to these concerns will be closely watched.
The issue of GBVF remains a pressing concern in South Africa, with many stakeholders calling for urgent action to address the problem. The DA's request for accurate statistics and a release deadline is a step towards ensuring that the government has the necessary data to develop effective interventions. The government has yet to respond to the DA's request.
Key points
- The DA wants accurate GBVF statistics and a release deadline from Cachalia.
- The request is linked to the government's plans to tackle forensic backlogs and identify resources needed for its GBVF response.
- ANC Women's League member Moiloa has called for dedicated budgets to combat GBVF.
