The KwaZulu-Natal Legislature is ramping up its oversight of police stations to combat alarming rates of gender-based violence and femicide.
Image: FILE
The KwaZulu-Natal Legislature is intensifying its oversight of police stations across the province amid alarming levels of gender-based violence and femicide (GBVF).
The Chairperson of the Community Safety and Liaison Portfolio Committee, Mbali Frazer, confirmed that the provincial government was leaving no stone unturned in its commitment to ensure that victims receive swift and appropriate assistance when reporting cases.
Speaking to reporters on Wednesday, Frazer highlighted the committee’s ongoing oversight visits to police stations as a critical measure to evaluate the handling of GBVF cases.
“We want to ensure that victims of GBVF receive the attention and urgency they deserve when they report cases,” she said, mindful of recent statistics depicting a national crisis.
Between July and September 2024, South Africa reported 957 murders of women, along with more than 10,000 reported rapes and over 14,000 cases of assault causing grievous bodily harm. Data sourced from the Human Sciences Research Council indicated that more than 5,500 women were killed in the country between April 2023 and March 2024, averaging nearly five women a day.
Frazer said the current oversight programme was designed to bolster accountability and enhance the responses of frontline services. The initiative also aims to pinpoint deficiencies in resources, training, and victim support services, especially in identified high-risk areas.
With South Africa standing as a nation with one of the highest femicide rates in the world, Frazer indicated that urgent action is required, as women are more likely to be harmed by intimate partners compared to international averages.
“Tackling GBVF remains a priority for the provincial government. Our focus is on improving coordination between police, government departments, and community structures,” she said.
Frazer added that eradicating GBVF requires a holistic approach involving society as a whole, but the foundation of this effort lies in prompt and effective police responses.
“The fight against GBVF begins with ensuring that our police stations respond effectively and without delay,” she concluded.
DAILY NEWS