Month of no violence gets off to a brutal start in NC

by Andrew Louw – DA Northern Cape Premier Candidate

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Date: 02 November 2018

Release: Immediate

Note to Editors: Find attached a voiceclip from DA Northern Cape Premier Candidate, Andrew Louw

The month of no violence against women and children has got off to a bad start in the Northern Cape, where two alleged rapes in De Aar in the past week have thrown the spotlight on sexual offences.

In the first incident, a young girl aged 15, was allegedly raped by another learner while at a gathering with friends. The girl was seriously injured and is recovering in the De Aar hospital. In a second incident, also in De Aar, it is alleged that a high school boy, on his way home from school, was kidnapped and raped before being released.

Despite the scourge of sexual offense in the Northern Cape having been on the failing ANC government’s agenda for over a decade already by way of the anti-rape strategy, that never saw the light of day, and then the crime prevention strategy, which is mean to be in implementation phase, we have seen little progress other than a few insignificant changes in the crime stats.

In effect, the threat of rape in the Northern Cape remains a very real threat, with this province having the second highest ratio of rapes in the country.

The growing trend of violent crime amongst our youth in the Northern Cape is also disturbing. Even more concerning is that our youth are increasingly the victims and the perpetrators of such crimes.

Earlier this year, Kimberley was left reeling in shock after the disappearance of eight-year old Melissa Kanguya. Three teens were later charged with her rape and murder. They were also accused of gang-raping a 12-year old girl and attempting to rape a 10-year old boy.

According to information provided by the Northern Cape Department of Transport, Safety and Liaison, 61,4% of the suspects arrested for contact crimes during 2016/2017 financial year, which include murder sexual offences and assault, were below the age of 29, with the youngest accused being just 11-years old. The department further says that, the fact that more than 45% of the youth is unemployed has a definite impact on crime statistics.

Criminality has been allowed to spiral out of control under the watch of an under-resourced, under-capacitated and under-trained police force. Crime prevention programmes amongst the youth have also failed to change the tide. Untenable levels of poverty, unemployment and substance abuse further aggravate the situation.

In effect, society is a mess and South Africa is raising a generation of criminals and victims.

Crime may be a reality and certainly mirrors the current state of lawlessness within government but it can be beaten with a well-equipped and efficient police force. Crime can also be addressed by creating opportunities and hope for our thousands of discouraged young people.

Unfortunately, under the failed ANC government, crime will never be combatted.

For as long as Provincial Police Commissioner Rismati Shivuri places helicopter joyrides above channeling state funds into better equipping the police, crime will remain a dangerous reality in the Northern Cape. And for as long as Premier Sylvia Lucas spends her hours playing the game of factional politics instead of focusing on real economic development that will benefit the youth and not just a connected few, our province will remain in a state of chaos and lawlessness.

Only change under a DA-led government, that places jobs and safety above party politics and personal enrichment, will ensure that crime, and most notably sexual offences, become a thing of the past.