Child Welfare-White River calls for proper investigation for GBV cases
They request that the White River Police Station be given a probation officer who will deal with cases that are opened against perpetrators who are under 18 years of age.
The local Child Welfare branch calls for the arrest of all suspects of gender-based violence (GBV) regardless of their age. This call was made on December 10 when members of Child Welfare in town with its supporters marched to White River Police Station to hand over a memorandum to the station manager and the Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offence Unit. 
“We request that this station be given a probation officer who will deal with cases that are opened against perpetrators who are under 18 years of age. Nothing is happening to perpetrators under 18,” said Jabulile Shabangu, a social worker.
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Shabangu called on the White River SAPS management to handle GBV cases at the local station. “We also discovered that these cases are only handled in Mbombela. We request that there should a unit that deals with it at this station.
“Transferring and handling of such cases in Mbombela cause a delay in such cases. Our clients who are the victims of such struggles cannot travel to Mbombela each time they need a follow-up on their cases. They should be investigated and handled here. 
“This is also a police station, we depend on it and everything should provide be for, ” she said.
Shabangu appealed to the management to treat victims of GBV with dignity and privacy. She allege that some victims are interrogated by police officers at reception. “We request privacy for GBV victims. Cases must be opened, investigated accordingly and followed up. Victims should be given feedback,” she said. The station’s manager Capt Mary Ngomane received the memorandum.
