In reaction to the overwhelming number of rape cases that are being reported in the Limpopo province on a daily basis, the Democratic Alliance (DA) in the province has announced its intention to table a new law to combat this situation.

Provincial DA caucus leader Ms Desiree van der Walt announced the proposed new law, the Limpopo Community Safety Bill, during a press conference held in Polokwane on Tuesday. Also attending the press conference was the mother of a two-year-old rape victim. She allegedly sought assistance at her local police station and received none. This, according to Van der Walt, is just one example of many similar rape cases that have received a disappointing level of police attention in the province.

Van der Walt again made mention of a recent article that was published in the City Press newspaper. According to this article, more than 650 rapes have been reported across the Limpopo province since the beginning of the year. Further research done by the newspaper has revealed that the actual number might be closer to 5 850 cases. The difference is made up by those cases that are never reported, which, says the DA, can largely be attributed to police inefficiency. 

This has spurred to DA to take action in the form of the Safety Bill. According to Van der Walt, the aim of the Bill is to hold the provincial police accountable. Among other things, the proposed Bill could see the establishment of Limpopo’s very own independent provincial police ombudsman to investigate complaints about police inefficiency. Furthermore, the Bill could give local communities the power to determine their own policing and security needs, where these are currently the responsibility of the national police commissioner.

The Bill further suggests that the MEC for Safety and Security provide support, training and resources to neighbourhood watches.  The Bill, if passed, will also make it mandatory for the provincial police commissioner to submit regular reports to the MEC about reported cases, investigations, convictions, lost firearms, deaths caused by police activity or any other matter that might relate to the efficiency of the police’s relationship with the community.

A draft copy of the Safety Bill is available here.