The state of the Ipelegeng local police station in Schweizer Reneke, North West, and the inability of the police to respond swiftly to serious crimes like rape, must be seriously scrutinised.
This is according to Deputy Minister in the Presidency, Kenny Morolong.
Morolong, who hails from the area, was speaking after visiting the family of a seven-year-old girl who was allegedly raped in December last year, 2024.
Speaking to Newsnote, the Deputy Minister expressed concern with the state of the station.
“We are encouraged that despite the matter being reported in December 2024, an arrest has finally been effected, and the accused appeared before the local magistrate’s court with one granted bail and the other one remanded in custody.
We are however concerned that it took them almost four months to arrest the alleged perpetrators of this heinous crime,” said Morolong.
He also raised concerns on the failure of the police to act swiftly in a case that constitutes a direct violation of the rights of the child while also describing the alleged incident as barbaric and diabolical.
“We are just disheartened generally by the developments that have ensued especially with respect to how the police have responded to the mother of the victim who initially approached the police in December last year not just to lay criminal charges but also to report the incident.
We’re perturbed that the police had not acted swiftly to arrest the alleged perpetrators but waited until last week to apprehend them,” remarked Morolong
Furthermore, Morolong highlighted other inefficiencies on how the police acted after the matter was reported to them.
“In the first instance we’re worried that the blood samples were only taken in February this year, with the arrest effected last week.
We have interacted with the local police and put it to them that these arrests were because of the community pressure exerted on them.
We’re therefore going to seriously raise this matter with the minister,” emphasised the Deputy Minister.
Morolong said he has already engaged the Social Development Minister Sisisi Tolashe to provide psychosocial support for the alleged victim and her family.
“The incident has seriously affected the child, her performance academically and so on.
So, we’re quite worried hence we are calling for a strengthened psychosocial support not only to her but also to her family that is equally reeling from this incident,” said Morolong.
Morolong was accompanied by the Provincial leadership of the South African National Civic Organisation (SANCO) represented by the Provincial Chairperson and Provincial Secretary, Tshepo Khoza and Mogomotsi Mosheshe respectively.
