Alexandra police have expressed concern over a trend where victims of gender-based violence (GBV) open cases, only to seek their withdrawal later.

The station ranks among the top 30 in the country for sexual offences, including rape, with quarterly statistics showing a persistent problem. In the first quarter of the 2026/27 financial year, Alexandra recorded 53 sexual offences, the highest in Gauteng, placing it among the top eight nationally. Statistics show most incidents in the province occur at the residence of either the victim or the perpetrator.

Read more: Alexandra police report 83% jump in trio crimes

Local police previously confirmed that most suspects are known to their victims, a trend that Brigadier Vusimuzi Ngubane noted also applies to assault, where several cases are linked to GBV.

While these numbers highlight the severity of GBV in the area, police say they do not reflect the full reality. The trend of complainants seeking to withdraw registered cases was highlighted during a community meeting at Alexandra Police Station on October 13, where residents voiced frustrations over how reports are handled.

Visible policing commander Colonel Jerry Phaswana said that while police do not withdraw cases, some complainants opt for mediation once their matters reach court. He revealed how this practice creates a challenge for police and leaves both official statistics and the community with an incomplete picture of local crime.

Patricia Nzimande, who attended the meeting, said the trend is unacceptable. Although she agreed that, as a pastor, she preaches forgiveness and reconciliation, she said it is not advisable for a GBV victim to withdraw a case. “It is not healthy for a person to erase a case, because the police officers are here for us,” Nzimande said. “They hate the fact that they are going to open a case for you, only to come back to tell them you had just a minor conflict with your partner and you want to withdraw the case.”

She said it is discouraging for officers who make it their priority to bring perpetrators to justice while working under resource constraints. Ngubane previously confirmed that the station faces a shortage of police vehicles, which officers use to arrest GBV suspects. Nzimande urged victims to consider their decisions carefully before taking steps they might later regret.

Also read: Gauteng police intensify crackdown on crime in Alexandra

Resident Ron Thobejane raised further concerns, alleging that male victims of GBV are ridiculed and some people are turned away when attempting to report cases. He said that most male victims are reluctant to come forward to report cases when they fear being ridiculed.

Phaswana rejected the claim. “GBV is a serious thing, not only in Alex, but across the country. No one can refuse to open a case.” He added that the station’s doors remain open to all victims.

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