Cele speaks out against GBV

POLICE Minister Bheki Cele has warned that the fight against genderbased violence is far from over, with the government wanting to intensify efforts to curb it.

Cele was in Cape Town yesterday to discuss GBV and other crimes with members of the community.

His visit comes after more than a week since Parliament passed the two remaining laws aimed at clamping down on GBV.

The Bills have been sent to President Cyril Ramaphosa to be signed into law.

He said it was the police’s responsibility to attend to the concerns of GBV victims.

In the last crime statistics presentation, Cele revealed that more than 10 000 women were raped in the country in the first three months of the year.

Cele also called on police officers not to turn away victims of sexual abuse and violence.

“It’s the police officer’s job and duty to transfer a case to the relevant police station; it is not the responsibility of the victim,” he said.

Turning victims away needs to stop. He said the continued refusal to assist victims in need could cost them their lives.

Cele said most of the women victims were raped by people known to them.

“In the middle of the night you are raped by the man who is supposed to protect you, the police are not there.

He said men must also play their roles and do extra in addressing this scourge.

He noted that Nyanga, in Cape Town, was no longer the area with highest crime rate, and this, Cele said, was as a result of the efforts of communities, CPF and police.