VICTIMS OF CRIME MUST RECEIVE ADEQUATE SUPPORT

10 MARCH 2008

Mpumalanga Safety and Security Head of Department (HOD), Mr. Isaiah Khoza has called on law enforcement agencies to give victims and survivors of crime adequate support to enable them to cope and not subject them to any form of secondary victimization. Khoza told members of Criminal Justice System on Saturday at Kwaggafontein during the visits to homes of victims and survivors of crime around Thembisile Municipality.

Khoza was accompanied by Correctional Services Kangala Regional Manager, Commissioner Nthabiseng Mtsweni, Chief Director Nontsundu Ndonga, Mpumalanga CPF Provincial Board Chairperson, Mr. Mandla Mphuti, Thembisile Municipality Councellors, and other senior officials from SAPS as well as, local CPF and other community structures.

Among those visited is Mrs. Elizabeth Mthimunye whose grandchild was shot and killed and the other grandchild survived an attempt on his life. Two cases of murder and attempted murder were opened at a local police station. The case of attempted murder was finalised and the perpetrator was convicted and sentenced. The visibly shaken Mrs. Mthimunye told the HOD and his entourage that she was still battling to come to terms with what happened. Mthimunye however indicated that she was happy with the assistance she has received from the local police station.

The second person visited was a victim of a car hijack who told the entourage that although his case was speedily resolved and the hijacked car recovered within a month, the police did not respond in time when he first opened the case. He was also not informed about the finalization of the case. There was seemingly a problem of communication between the Court interpreter and himself and this resulted in him not hearing the verdict of the case.

In another case of attempted murder where Themba Mbonani was shot on the back, the perpetrators were convicted and sentenced and the victims were happy with the manner in which the case was handled by the police although the victim is worried about his own safety and he has not yet come to terms with the ordeal.

In another incident a seven year school girl was raped. The grandmother is still traumatized and she was hysterical and highly emotional when she was relating her story. The child has been taken to his relatives outside the province for fear of further victimization.

Khoza called on SAPS and other state agencies to ensure that victims receive counseling and debriefing so that they can be able to move on with their lives. He further said that it is the responsibility of state to protect the weak especially the elderly, women, children and people living with disabilities.

SAPS has further promised to speedily resolve and finalise all other outstanding cases and communication to victims and survivors of crime needs to be improved. In a case of a pensioner who was raped and had her home broken into twice, Commissioner Mtsweni pledged that the Department of Correctional Services will assist in reinforcing her house as another security measure and the community in her street will assist in ensuring her home is secure.

Mphuti has further encouraged communities to form street committees and participate in formations such as CPFs, enlist as reservists and further participate in the ongoing war against crime.

The exercise culminated into a visit to identified homes of parolees to ensure that they were complying with their conditions of parole. The exercise is an important part of crime prevention as previously members of the community has complained that some offenders do not comply with parole conditions. They would among other things commit crimes and threaten the safety of the community. Out of the five visited, three were not found at home and this amounts violation of the conditions. Notices were left for them to report to the local police station within 48 hours.

The Department’s visit to victims and survivors of crime is part of the ongoing effort to building partnerships with all stakeholders for the creation of safer communities. This will among other things be done through improving and enhancing the relationship between the government and the community. The work of the Criminal Justice Process towards servicing the community will also be improved by the ongoing restructuring of CPFs into CSFs. Some of the gaps identified in the Criminal Justice Process during the Saturday’s visit will be addressed once the process of the restructuring of CPFs has been finalised.

Issued by Communication Section, Mpumalanga Provincial Government, Department of Safety and Security

Enquiries: Joseph Mabuza 013 766 4055/ 082 678 1450