Zuko Komisa
- Reports reveal 97 South African Police Service (SAPS) officers face accusations of rape or sexual violence.
- Lawmakers have condemned the figures as a “betrayal of trust” that undermines the force’s duty to protect.
- The Gauteng legislature is demanding swift accountability and a reversal of funding cuts for victim support services.
Recent figures from the Independent Police Investigative Directorate’s 2024/2025 report have sent shockwaves through the Gauteng legislature, revealing that at least 97 police officers across the country stand accused of sexual violence or rape.
For those who look to the blue uniform for safety, these statistics represent more than just a failure of policy they represent a profound betrayal of human trust.
Bandile Masuku, chairperson of the community safety portfolio committee, didn’t mince words, describing the allegations as a “deeply disturbing” contradiction of the constitutional mandate to protect women and children.
The crisis is compounded by a system stretched to its breaking point. While the number of accused officers rises, the resources meant to catch the fallen social workers and non-profit organisations are facing crippling funding cuts.
This leaves victims of domestic violence in a precarious lurch, caught between a lack of support and a police force struggling with its own internal rot.
The committee has now pledged to intensify its oversight, insisting that compliance with the Domestic Violence Act is non-negotiable.
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