The Police Committee instructed top South African Police Service (SAPS) bosses to step up training for SAPS members to make sure they follow the Domestic Violence Act (DVA).
This happened after the committee got a report on how well the Act is followed and about complaints against SAPS members, as it says in Section 18(4)(a) of the Act.
The committee said not following the Act makes it hard to fight gender-based violence, and more training will help cops report and look into domestic violence properly.
“It’s not okay that in South Africa, with so many cases of domestic violence, some SAPS members aren’t following the Act. While there’s been some improvement, the committee won’t accept anything less than full compliance,” said committee chairperson, Nocks Seabi.
SAPS and the Civilian Secretariat for Police Service told the committee that from April 1 to September 30, 2023, there were 60 complaints. Fifty of those were about not filling out a SAPS 508(a) form (a form to record domestic violence incidents) and the Domestic Violence Register (SAPS 508(b)).
Seven cases were about not recording domestic violence in the police logbook, and two were about not helping someone to open a case.
The committee knows some action has been taken, like giving verbal and written warnings, but thinks more training will help cops handle domestic violence cases better and follow the law.
The committee wants investigations into these issues to be done quickly so that members can be held responsible.
The committee is worried about the high number of police officers accused of committing domestic violence. “It’s shocking that 165 SAPS members are accused of domestic violence. How can we expect them to help vulnerable people? This needs urgent action,” Seabi stressed.
The committee also wants better support for members dealing with violence and more victim-friendly rooms in police stations.
On another note, the committee got a report about the Safer Festive Season operations and said it’s mostly happy with how visible and active the police were during the festive season.
But they know there’s not always enough money for these operations and want to know how much it’ll cost for Parliament to consider it.
Ekurhuleni News reporter
