The DA Women’s Network (DAWN) calls on the newly appointed police commissioner of KwaZulu-Natal, Lt Gen Nhlanhla Mkwanazi, to prioritise the fight against gender-based violence (GBV).
We challenge Mkhwanazi specifically to establish a comprehensive plan to train police officers on how to address and assist victims of GBV and sexual assault. We further challenge him to ensure that every police station has a well-resourced victim support centre that will provide safety and comfort for these victims.
Albeit years too late, Mkhwanazi recently announced that they will embark on a journey to turn around the crime in the uMgungundlovu District, with the focus on the Plessislaer police precinct – one of the most troublesome areas not only in the province but in the country too.
It is disturbing that his plans – which include the deployment of additional police – does not prioritise the fight against GBV. In fact, he has completely ignored the plight of victims of GBV, rape, and sexual assault.
Year in and year out, the Plessislaer police station remains in the top 30 for police stations with high records of sexual offenses as well as rape across the country. Even though this information is available to Mkhwanazi, he made absolutely no mention of it, nor did he indicate that he would consider placing these crimes on his agenda.
We believe that training police officers to be brutal and violent will not serve any purpose except to escalate the lack of trust that most civilians have in the police.
DAWN KZN calls on Lt Gen Mkhwanazi to take cognisance of the plight of the most vulnerable in our communities. Mkhwanazi must provide us with a concrete plan to address all crimes, especially those against the most vulnerable.