630 cases of sexual assault in one quarter for Pretoria

Brooklyn police have prioritised enforcing the law on sexual crimes after numerous Pretoria police stations recorded high cases of rape and sexual assault recently.

The latest crime statistics revealed that Pretoria police stations recorded more than 630 sexual assault cases in three months in 2022.

Brooklyn police station, with its high student population, has since committed to strengthening law enforcement as their station had 19 sexual offences reported from July to September.

This was the second highest recorded stats at the station post-Covid, where sexual cases in 2019 stood at 21 and only 10 cases reported in 2021.

According to stats released by Minister for Police Bheki Cele last month, 14 cases at the station were related to rape, while five were related to sexual assault.

Silverton police station also recorded its highest sexual offence cases in three months, with 25 rapes and five sexual assaults.

Garsfontein police station recorded its second highest cases of sexual assault since 2019. The stations 2022 stats for rape stood at six reported rapes, four sexual assaults and four contact sexual offences.

Sunnyside police station also recorded 29 cases in three months for sexual offences, the highest in since 2018. Twenty rapes were recorded, eight sexual assaults and one contact sexual offence.

In the most shocking case, a 47-year-old man was convicted for raping an 11-year-old and attempting to rape a 13-year-old at Pretoria Hotel recently.

Cele announced his worry about the 11% rise in sexual offences nationwide.

Sexual offences category:

– Rape – 10.8%

– Sexual assault – 8.1%

– Attempted sexual offences – 34.0%

– Contact sexual offences- 2.7%

“The rate at which women are abused, violated and some killed in South Africa remains worrying and unacceptable, many are killed by the people they know, people they love and trust,” said Cele.

He said over 10 000 rape cases were opened with the SAPS between July and September.

Cele said in the three months, 83 rapes occurred at educational facilities, including basic education schools and tertiary institutions.

“The crime statistics again show that we as communities continue to fail to protect some of the most vulnerable in society; our children.”

He called on SAPS members to continue to prioritise gender-based violence (GBV) related crimes.

His call has been heeded by Brooklyn police station which has committed to enforcing the law on sexual crimes as the country commemorates 16 Days of Activism against GBV, which began on November 25.

Brooklyn police, along with the liquor engagement, business and community police forums in Brooklyn aim to decrease sexual crimes by promoting responsible alcohol use and taking a stand against all types of violence against women, children and vulnerable groups as well as date rape drugs.

“Alcohol-related rape and sexual offences can be prevented by taking basic precautions,” said police spokesperson Captain Dave Miller.

“Businesses are attempting to put up more lighting outside their premises as a deterrent for criminals.

“The safety of students and the reduction of crime against women, children and vulnerable groups are further rolled out with the support of the University of Pretoria (UP) and local churches in the area. More joint ventures are planned for 2023.”

Recently the forums strengthened their liquor licence compliance partnerships as a strategy to reduce crimes around liquor premises in Hatfield, and Lynnwood Road in particular.

In October – following a string of thefts and allegations of rape in Hatfield and Lynwood Road – police, UP and local business offered bodyguards, installed rape panic buttons in ladies’ restrooms and increased police vehicle patrols as a deterrent to the crimes.

The measures came as the so-called Lynnwood Road “strip” became a cancer for residents following a rise in allegations of rape, theft, drug peddling and murder in the student-populated area.

The Tshwane metro police also recently reinstated a bicycle patrol unit in Hatfield following a UP student’s murder.

Station commander Brigadier Kushie Pietersen assured the community that there will be greater police visibility over the festive period.

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