Cape Town – Action Society says it is more than willing to teach SA Police Service ( management how to process a case and give victims the justice they deserve.
Action Society made its remark this week in reaction to the revelation that a significant number of poorly put together cases of Gender-Based Violence (GBV) were struck off the roll in the Western Cape.
In a statement on Wednesday, Action Society said it was “appalled by reports coming from the Western Cape SAPS that at least 89 cases of violence against women and children have been struck off the court roll”.
Action Society said this anomaly was a symptom of deeply rooted investigative and forensic neglect that was “now entrenched in all levels” of SAPS.
“This indifference and ineptness on management level at SAPS feeds the culture of neglect and this will only embolden criminals and lead to more people becoming victims of violent and sexual crime,” said Kaylynn Palm, Head of Action Society’s Action Centre in the Western Cape.
She said while there were still pockets of excellence left in the SAPS, the declining number of cases solved and even lower conviction rates were “proof that we are moving in the wrong direction”.
Action Society said its assistance in many GBV cases, monitored in courts such as the Mitchells Plain Magistrate’s Court and Paarl Magistrate’s Court have led to trials and convictions.
“Action Society believes that justice delayed is justice denied, and this must be a wake-up call for the police to realise that they are in dire need of more skilled and experienced members,” said Palm.
“We are convinced that the situation in the rest of the country is similar to the situation in the Western Cape.
“Action Society urgently wants to know what SAPS management intends to do to offer justice to victims of GBV.
“Action Society is more than willing to teach SAPS management how to process a case and give victims the justice they deserve.”