Rape and domestic abuse on the Dolphin Coast have drastically increased with September seeing the highest number of reported cases at Umhlali SAPS this year.
According to Umhlali SAPS spokesperson Vinny Pillay, there were a number rape and assault cases being reported at the station almost every week.
About 65 per cent of the rape cases involved children.
Also read: Weekend crime report for Umhlali
“We have never seen, even in previous years, such a dramatic increase in a particular crime. Umhlali SAPS has been conducting awareness campaigns around the Dolphin Coast community making men aware that abuse against women and children will not be tolerated.
“Woman are generally abused by their husbands or boyfriends over minor arguments. In most of the rape cases, the perpetrator is usually a close friend or relative.”
A recent survey conducted by Statistics SA revealed that 71 per cent of South Africans believe that women should have equal rights to men.
Three per cent of the sample group felt it acceptable for a husband to physically abuse his wife.
The shocking part was that more men shared a viewpoint that it was acceptable to hit a woman under certain circumstances.
Some of the ‘acceptable’ excuses for abuse were refusing to engage in sexual activities, burning the food and arguing with her husband.
Pillay said that many people do not report abuse even when it concerns children, and when they do, it is sometimes a while after the abuse took place.
“Any form of abuse needs to reported immediately but we emphasise that especially when it comes to sexual abuse as it is easier for the police to build a case. We need women to take a stand and allow the law to fight for them when they cannot.”
Umhlali SAPS is working on improving their trauma centre to create a safe place for abuse victims.
“When victims report a crime, they can do it in a safe and comfortable environment. We have recently been donated containers and we will be turning them into proper trauma centres. The police are trained to deal with such cases and we are here to help.”
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