Police 'making effort to fight' rising tide of GBV cases

Though police concede more needs to be done to protect women and children, the South African Police Service (Saps) is encouraged by the work of its family violence, child protection and sexual investigations unit.

- Faizel Patel

As the country marked the start of 16 Days of Activism for No Violence against Women and Children, police said the unit also has forensic social workers who assist detectives in completing psychosocial and risk assessments, provide effective therapeutic services and implement crisis interventions for victims of crime.

Police spokesperson Athlenda Mathe outlined some of the successes they have achieved.

From April 2023 to September 2024, the unit conducted 16 668 gender-based violence and femicide (GBVF) suspect raids across the country.