Sol Plaatje must turn streetlights on for festive season
| by Ofentse Mokae, MPL – DA Northern Cape Provincial Spokesperson on Transport, Safety & Liaison |
| Date: 12 August 2020 |
| Release: Immediate |
| Note to Editors: Please find attached soundbites in English & Afrikaans from Ofentse Mokae, MPL. The Democratic Alliance (DA) is pushing for the Department of Transport, Safety and Liaison to take the Northern Cape Crime Prevention Strategy (2030) off the shelf and start implementing it.This comes after yesterday’s virtual media briefing on the provincial crime statistics for the period of 2018/2019 – 2019/2020, as released by the Premier, Dr Zamani Saul, together with Safety MEC, Nomandla Bloem, and the Provincial Police Commissioner, Lt Gen Risimati Shivuri, sparked concern that still not enough is being done to curb Gender Based Violence (GBV).It is indeed concerning to note that, despite the annual campaign of no violence against women and children, such crime remains unacceptably high in the Northern Cape, especially against the province’s low population count. In this regard, the 196 Gender Based Violence (GBV) cases that were reported, are not permissible and demand high priority status.Ongoing high incidents of rape and sexual assault also cannot be tolerated. What is especially disturbing is that the majority of rape cases, amounting to 638 cases, having been reported as having occurred at private residences. This means women and children are not even safe in their own homes.While the DA notes the overall decrease in contact crimes against women and children, that saw a 4,8% drop in crimes against women, and a 6, 4% drop in crimes against children, just one rape, assault or murder, is one crime too many.With the recent rise of GBV cases reported during lockdown, it is increasingly critical to the wellbeing of all women and children, that provincial government stops talking and starts executing its long awaited plans to address crime prevention and GBV.Hot air will do little to safeguard our women and children. Instead, this government’s so-called burning desire to halt GBV needs a coordinated and implementable response, that starts with the upgrading of the police service, to ensure that all perpetrators are kept off the street, and out of people’s homes, and punished for their crimes. |
| Media Enquiries |
| Ofentse Mokae, MPLDA Northern Cape Provincial Spokesperson on Transport, Safety & Liaison076 108 3264 Chrystal FrancisResearcher079 2260 991 |
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