48.9% of rapes in one policing area, statistics show
2003-10-15. Nearly half of all rapes in the Western Cape take place in one policing district in Cape Town.
Eastern Metropole assistant
commissioner Allan Mondisa said yesterday 48.9% of all reported rape
cases in the province during April, May and June this year were
reported at the 22 police stations in his area, that stretches from
Atlantis on the West Coast to Gordon's Bay in the Helderberg.
However, there had been a decrease of 5.9% in reported cases compared to the same period last year.
"We do not wish to generalise, but alcohol is a major factor in many rape cases. In most cases the perpetrator is known to the victim," Mondisa said.
These revelations came after the rapes of a two-year-old girl in Du Noon and nine-month-old baby in Kuils River over the weekend. Both areas fall under the Eastern Metropole.
The two-year-old's injuries were so severe she had to have reconstructive surgery.
The nine-month-old was also admitted to hospital. A possible charge of negligence is being investigated against the child's mother. Tygerberg hospital spokeswoman Martie Carstens said yesterday the baby was in a satisfactory condition in the children's wing.
She said it was unclear when the child would be released as social workers were dealing with the case.
A 35-year-old man, who was arrested on Sunday afternoon in connection with the rape of the nine-month-old baby, appeared in the Kuils River Magistrate's Court yesterday. He was remanded to October 23 for legal representation to be appointed.
Independent Democrats leader Patricia de Lille said: "I am pleased a suspect has been arrested. The rule of the law should take its course dispensing the harshest possible judgment on these villains.
"The moral fabric of our communities is ruined by incidents like these. We need to return to a society where women and children are loved and respected and not abused."
DA spokesman on child abuse Mike Waters, said: "You stand a greater chance of getting away with child rape than with a traffic violation; only 6% of all reported crimes against
children end in a successful conviction."
He said the spate of such cases highlighted the central problem regarding child abuse.
"We have a team of willing police officers and forensic scientists who sincerely want to clamp down on this scourge, but they are hopelessly under-equipped and overworked. It is just physically impossible for them to do more," he said.
The ANC's Women's League Cape Town region said it was disgusted at the rapes.
"We are deeply concerned and angered by the escalating rate of rape of babies and children in the Western Cape."
Mondisa said during July this year, most rape and attempted rape cases were reported at the Khayelitsha, Kuils River, Kraaifontein, Delft, Elsies River, Ravensmead, Macassar, Bellville and Bishop Lavis police stations.
The statistics also showed that most of the cases occurred after dark and over weekends while most rapes reported during the week were committed between 4 and 11pm.
Mondisa said all 22 police stations were equipped with victim support facilities.
"Detectives are trained to focus on and investigate rape and domestic violence cases.
"Although victim support forms an important part of our strategy to address crimes against women and children, proactive measures are taken to reduce the number of victims," he said.
Mondisa said police members were actively involved in crime awareness programmes in the community.
"Our aim is to provide a platform for victims to speak out and encourage them to lay criminal charges and not to take the law into their own hands.
"We also encourage victims not to withdraw rape charges," he said.
However, there had been a decrease of 5.9% in reported cases compared to the same period last year.
"We do not wish to generalise, but alcohol is a major factor in many rape cases. In most cases the perpetrator is known to the victim," Mondisa said.
These revelations came after the rapes of a two-year-old girl in Du Noon and nine-month-old baby in Kuils River over the weekend. Both areas fall under the Eastern Metropole.
The two-year-old's injuries were so severe she had to have reconstructive surgery.
The nine-month-old was also admitted to hospital. A possible charge of negligence is being investigated against the child's mother. Tygerberg hospital spokeswoman Martie Carstens said yesterday the baby was in a satisfactory condition in the children's wing.
She said it was unclear when the child would be released as social workers were dealing with the case.
A 35-year-old man, who was arrested on Sunday afternoon in connection with the rape of the nine-month-old baby, appeared in the Kuils River Magistrate's Court yesterday. He was remanded to October 23 for legal representation to be appointed.
Independent Democrats leader Patricia de Lille said: "I am pleased a suspect has been arrested. The rule of the law should take its course dispensing the harshest possible judgment on these villains.
"The moral fabric of our communities is ruined by incidents like these. We need to return to a society where women and children are loved and respected and not abused."
DA spokesman on child abuse Mike Waters, said: "You stand a greater chance of getting away with child rape than with a traffic violation; only 6% of all reported crimes against
children end in a successful conviction."
He said the spate of such cases highlighted the central problem regarding child abuse.
"We have a team of willing police officers and forensic scientists who sincerely want to clamp down on this scourge, but they are hopelessly under-equipped and overworked. It is just physically impossible for them to do more," he said.
The ANC's Women's League Cape Town region said it was disgusted at the rapes.
"We are deeply concerned and angered by the escalating rate of rape of babies and children in the Western Cape."
Mondisa said during July this year, most rape and attempted rape cases were reported at the Khayelitsha, Kuils River, Kraaifontein, Delft, Elsies River, Ravensmead, Macassar, Bellville and Bishop Lavis police stations.
The statistics also showed that most of the cases occurred after dark and over weekends while most rapes reported during the week were committed between 4 and 11pm.
Mondisa said all 22 police stations were equipped with victim support facilities.
"Detectives are trained to focus on and investigate rape and domestic violence cases.
"Although victim support forms an important part of our strategy to address crimes against women and children, proactive measures are taken to reduce the number of victims," he said.
Mondisa said police members were actively involved in crime awareness programmes in the community.
"Our aim is to provide a platform for victims to speak out and encourage them to lay criminal charges and not to take the law into their own hands.
"We also encourage victims not to withdraw rape charges," he said.
Published in the Cape Times
By Kashiefa Ajam
