New FCS Commander aims to bring sexual offenders to justice

“Suspects must think about the crime before committing it. A two-minute rape will guarantee you a sentence of 25 years in prison.”
These are the words of Captain Sibusiso Luhlongwane, the newly appointed Commander of the Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offences Unit (FCS) in Vryheid.
He took up the reins from Captain Thokozani Zikalala, who has since relocated.
Capt Luhlongwane’s official duties commenced on September 2.
His police journey started as a young man with SAPS in 1991 in the Finance Department, and after a few internal transfers, he was promoted to the Detectives section. He was one of the first officials to apply when the Ulundi FCS Unit opened in 2006.
“I had to apply, because I have a love for children,” he said.
In January, Capt Luhlongwane was transferred to SAPS Empangeni, before being moved across to Vryheid SAPS.
The unit’s main mandate is to prevent and assist any victims of sexual abuse, sexual assault and rape, especially when these occur within a family structure.
Capt Luhlongwane explained the unit also conducted awareness campaigns at schools and in the community.
Addressing the reality of child abduction, he said he was determined to crack down on those cases and to also prevent incidences of ukthwala, a form of abduction which involves the kidnapping of a young girl or woman by a man or her peers, with the intention of compelling the family to agree to marriage.
Capt Luhlongwane said in these cases, suspects would be arrested and end up behind bars.
Asked about the case which haunted him most, Capt Luhlongwane referred to the savage rape of a 77-year-old woman, by a 19-year-old who weighed in excess of 100 kilograms. “When I got to the scene, the woman could not get up and was just laying on the mat where she had been sleeping. She was severely traumatised and very fragile, and could not even fight the suspect off. I cried when I had to investigate the crime, but I arrested the suspect not long after.”
Another case which got him emotional was that of a grandfather who raped his two granddaughters over a long period of time.
“The children had to stay with the grandparents since the mother was deceased. The family stayed in one room. The day the suspect was arrested was a day filled with mixed emotions. The children were happy, since it meant the end of their suffering, but the grandfather was also the breadwinner of the family.”
Capt Luhlongwane immediately arranged for the family to receive a social grant.
In the two months since he’s headed the FCS Unit in Vrhyeid, Capt Luhlongwane said the biggest challenge was the free use of liquor and drugs, two substances blamed for the majority of sexual offences.
He gave the following advice to residents:
– Report a rape within 72 hours, to enable police to obtain a DNA sample
– Don’t go out alone; go in a group.
– When a rape occurs, try to remember specific characteristics about the suspect, to enable the police to create an identikit as soon as possible
– The first point to report a sexual offence case is the police station, but the FCS Unit can be contacted as well.
In conclusion, he added: “I am here to do what is best for the people of Vryheid, but we need to work together. We are always willing to assist. And also remember, no case is old – even if it happened 20 years ago, you can still report it. Most of our cases get solved and we don’t stop until the perpetrator is arrested.”
To contact the FCS Unit, call Capt Luhlongwane on 082 856 7752.

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