August is celebrated as Women's Month and yet some women's issues are still not taken seriously. The Domestic Violence Act appears to be treated with contempt by the SAPS. It is reported that only 8% of police stations monitored by the Independent Complaints Directorate, ICD, are compliant with this Act. Women who attempt to report domestic violence and abuse at police stations are subjected to further abuse by those who are meant to assist them. When these women reported these incidents to the ICD the police only took action in about 5,1% of the cases.
These figures show that the higher ranks of the SAPS need to act urgently to improve the deteriorating situation in their police stations. If Women's Day and Women's Month are meaningful, the upholding of women's rights is imperative. Women are our mothers, sisters and wives and we salute them and strongly condemn all those who abuse them.