Scores of angry and semi-naked women in Kanana, outside Orkney in the North West who claim the police are failing to investigate rampant incidents of rapes in their area marched to Arefenyeng Primary School where the police were having an anti GBV Imbizo.
The women accused the police of not probing rape incidents that are occuring regularly and also ignoring reported cases of GBV.
Matshepo Maimane said the women of Kanana are out on the streets topless because the police were failing them, “Two young girls were murdered this month, while four women were raped,” she said.
Refiloe Rampai said: “Our police do not want to go out into the streets and look for the men who are committing these horrible crimes; by marching half naked on the streets this is how we believe our police will listen to us”.
Addressing the angry group, the police blamed the large number of unresolved GBV incidents on a shortage of resources and manpower.
Police Brigadier Peter Juma, who oversees 15 police stations in the Dr. Kenneth Kaunda District, said the station has a challenge regarding vehicles and personnel but they have noted the concerns of the community.
Juma said a well-equipped police station is being built in Kanana, which he said will speed up response time to complaints once completed.
Kanana Community Policing Forum said they were faced with challenges of complainants who come and report without having any evidence and this makes it harder for the police to start an investigation.
CPF chairperson Shadrack Modiakgotla said: “There are cases that I get every day, but if you want proof, they don’t have. We need to follow up on those incidents because it is one of my responsibilities to ensure that the police are assisting the community”.
