Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offences Units in KwaZulu-Natal have secured a total of six terms of life imprisonment which was meted out to those accused of rape last month.
Investigators from the unit have been in and out of courts in the province, making sure that those accused of sexually related offences are prosecuted and that their victims find closure.
From 1 to 31 July 2017, a total of 539 cases of rape, sexual assault, child neglect and kidnapping cases were received for investigation by the unit. During the same period 284 arrests were made as a result of investigations by the team.
Accused that were on trial during the same period were sentenced to six terms of life imprisonment as well as a total of 431 years in prison. The six men who were sentenced to life imprisonment were as a result of rape incidents that had occurred in Mariannhill, KwaMakhutha, Newcastle, Osizweni, Bishopstowe and Wartburg. The accused cannot be named since their victims are children and related to them.
The KwaZulu-Natal Acting Provincial Commissioner, Major General Bheki Langa congratulated the FCS units in the province for their perseverance in putting rapists behind bars where they belong. ”I am pleased with this news as it comes at a time when we are advocating against the culture of gender violence. I hope that this sends a clear message to those who abuse our women and children. We also wish to thank all role players in the criminal justice system for their part in securing these convictions. We hope that those who have been arrested last month will face a similar fate soon,” he said.
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