As the country observes the 16 Days of Activism for No Violence Against Women and Children Campaign, the South African Police Service (SAPS) deemed it fit to pay gratitude to detectives in the Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offences Investigations (FCS) Unit as well as the detectives within the Serial and Electronic FCS Crime Investigations (SECI) whose efforts often go unnoticed for contributing to a much better and safer South Africa.
SAPS introduced the nation to Warrant Officer Nervarge “Nivi” Lutchminarain.
Born and bred in Tongaat in Kwa-Zulu Natal, this member has 28 years’ service having joined the organisation in 1993.
The member began his career as a detective and in 2002 was hand-picked to join the then Child Protection Unit.
In 2008 this specialised detective became the first detective in the country to convict a female of rape. In this matter, a twenty-eight-year-old woman had been found guilty of raping her 14-year-old nephew on numerous occasions.
According to the member, the boy was unaware that he was being raped and thought he was at the right age to have sexual intercourse. The woman was convicted and sentenced to life in prison with an additional 15 years.
Warrant Officer Nivi, as he is known by colleagues and many others, says a lot of men and boys are embarrassed to speak up or report abuse for fear of being laughed at.
“There are many men who are emotionally, physically, and verbally abused daily by women but are afraid to speak about their experience because their own communities and peers make a mockery of them. Men and boys also need support, they are also human, its time society supports and stands up against men abuse“, said Warrant Officer Lutchminarain.
The member says he has worked on several cases where men refused to open cases against their partners or other females who had abused and violated them, simply because they felt embarrassed.
“Men need to man up and speak out against abuse. Because these men cannot show the power in their relationships, they tend to commit other violent crimes or at times they turn on their perpetrators”, added Warrant Officer Lutchminarain.
In March 2021, the member also became the first detective in the country to have a parent, guardian or care giver convicted of human trafficking.
The member was instrumental in the handing down of nine life sentences to a Verulam stepfather who had been using his nine-year-old to create child pornography, raped at least 900 times and forced to perform sexual acts.
The FCS unit boasts 176 units nationwide and nine Serial and Electronic Crime FCS Investigation Units based at Provincial Offices across the country.
The South African Police Service is encouraging all citizens to download the MySAPS app. The app allows citizens to share information more effectively by providing tip-offs anonymously through the app, finding the nearest police stations and facilities and offers quick access to all official SAPS social media platforms.
In addition, GBV survivors and those exposed to GBV related abuse are encouraged to click on the vulnerability services icon on the MySAPS App to get a better understanding of what the FCS unit offers to GBV survivors and affected parties.
