Action Society is appalled with reports coming from the Western Cape South African Police Service (SAPS) that at least 89 cases of violence against women and children have been struck off the court roll. It proves what Action Society continuously points out, that justice delayed is justice denied.
“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 Head of Action Society’s Action Centre in the Western Cape, Kaylynn Palm.
This is the symptom of deeply rooted investigative and forensic neglect that is now entrenched in all levels of SAPS. There are still pockets of excellence left, but the declining number of cases solved and even lower conviction rates are proof that we are moving in the wrong direction. However Action Society’s continued efforts in many of these cases, monitored in courts such as the Mitchells Plain Magistrate’s court and Paarl Magistrate’s court, has led to success.
“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,” added 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.
