36/1/4/1/200900221
NATIONAL ASSEMBLY
FOR WRITTEN REPLY
QUESTION NO 2143
DATE OF PUBLICATION IN INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER: 6 NOVEMBER 2009
(INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER NO 27- 2009)
Date reply submitted : 7 December 2009
Ms L D Mazibuko (DA) to ask the Minister of Police:
(1) (a) How many SA Police Service stations do not have victim support
rooms and (b) where are rape victims and victims of sexual crimes
currently interviewed at these police stations;
(2) whether any of these police stations have a plan in place to have one
installed; if not, why not in each case; if so, what (a) are the
relevant details and (b) is the timeline in each case?
NW2829E
REPLY:
(1)
(a) The SAPS has established Victim Support Rooms (VSRâs) at 795 police
stations in the country to date. There is still the need to establish
a further 321 VSRâs in all Provinces in total.
(b) At police stations, where there are no VSRâs specifically designated
for victims of sexual offences, interviews are conducted in private
cubicles at the Community Service Centre (CSC) or taken to an existing
office, used by support staff or detectives, where statements are
taken in privacy.
(2) All new constructions and future renovations at police stations will
include Victim Support Rooms.
(a) All new police stations constructed, are equipped with Victim Support
Rooms, as well as Sensitive Statement offices. Where existing police
stations are upgraded, these facilities are also upgraded, or where
they do not exist, are provided as part of the upgrading project. An
amount of R6,5 million was also made available, to provide 27 mobile
Victim Support Centres, at identified police stations throughout the
country, within the current financial year.
(b) The timeline for the mobile units include delivery and installation
by the end of December 2009.
Reply to question 2143 approved by Minister