Chairperson, hon Deputy Minister, and hon members, the lack of a constant and co-ordinated approach in the implementation of service delivery to victims of sexual offences is a concern as there is failure in instances to provide effective protection to the survivors of sexual offences.
Criminal justice agencies tend to be ineffective and insensitive in the handling of cases. The Commission on Gender Equality for 2006 reported the delays in court processes to finalise cases. Also, it pointed out the lack of state support for survivors dealing with trauma.
The lack of an effective legislative framework to deal with sexual offences came to the fore. Taking cognisance of these findings, reports and observations enable one to understand the dissatisfactory circumstances South Africans have had to endure in our liberated country.
Are these victims of such circumstances liberated? They are definitely not. When rape victims of the age of 14 are called aside by state prosecutors to determine their own fate in their cases, do we really protect them? When a woman is so-called mistaken for a man and placed in a cell with men and raped the whole night, is that protection by us? Yet again, the culprit gets away with it.
No, we cannot continue like this in this country. Hence, the ID is looking forward to seeing these circumstances addressed and changed in future by these amendments. The ID supports the Bill. I thank you.