Pretoria - Police Minister Nathi Mthethwa has applauded police officers, particularly those in KwaZulu-Natal (KZN), who helped secure the 362 life sentences handed down to criminals during the course of the year.
The life sentences, with more than 20 000 years of imprisonment, were imposed on criminals for crimes such as rape and abuse of the women, children and the elderly from January to November 2011.
KZN police helped secure 108 life sentences, said Mthethwa, while interacting with the Mpophomeni community, near Pietermaritzburg on Monday.
The minister met with the community as part of a programme that will see him interacting with the SAPS Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offences (FCS) Units throughout the country.
These interactions are aimed at helping improve the ability of the SAPS to offer specialised investigations to women and children who are victims of crime.
Mthethwa said he was encouraged to learn about the 108 life sentences handed down in KZN.
"...These convictions were achieved despite various challenges facing the members of the FCS. Instead of allowing the challenging environment to dampen their commitment, these dedicated members rose against all odds and spearheaded our fight against women and children abusers. We applaud their efforts..." he added.
There were 33 life sentences in Gauteng, 17 in Mpumalanga, 31 in North West, 28 in Eastern Cape, eight in Northern Cape, 49 in Western Cape, 44 in Free State and 44 in Limpopo.
Mthethwa said his interactions with the FCS were to gain an understanding of the challenges the units face as they execute their duties.
"This is not your average crime to deal with; it requires utmost sensitivity, dedication and specialised training. [Despite] the challenges raised by the members including lack of accommodation to operate effectively, challenges around the ICT infrastructure and equipment and skills shortage, they still soldiered on," he noted.
The minister assured members of the FCS that the challenges they raised would be addressed immediately.
"...I have instructed the Acting National Police Commissioner and his management to prioritise this matter. As we go forward, we want to ensure that the FCS are allocated appropriate resources and capacity and they must be based at police stations, because that is where victims of crime require assistance from. Our police stations must, in true sense of the word, become the beacon of hope to all victims."
Acting National Police Commissioner, Lieutenant-General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi, said he had instructed police to prioritise crimes against women and children.
"Let us all tackle this inexcusable behaviour by some men, who are actually cowards, who abuse women and young girls. As a law abiding community you must deliver these rapists and molesters to the police so that we can secure harsher sentences," he told the Mpophomeni community.
