PP report: Police, Justice Dept and Social Development failing victims of GBV
The latest report by the Public Protector has found that three government departments' lack of capacity and training of staff further contributed to failures in handling GBV cases.
Public Protector Kholeka Gcaleka handing over gender-based violence (GBV) report to the Deputy Minister of Justice John Jeffrey on 4 June 2024. Picture: Nthuthuzelo Nene
JOHANNESBURG - A Public Protector report has revealed that the Departments of Justice and Social Development and the South African Police Service are failing to adequately assist victims of gender-based violence (GBV) in the country.
The report has found that all three departments are ill-equipped to deal with domestic violence cases.
It also found that the lack of capacity and training of staff further contributed to failures in handling GBV cases.
Public Protector Advocate Kholeka Gcaleka handed the report to Justice Deputy Minister John Jeffery at the Bellville Magistrates Court on Tuesday.
Gcaleka said the investigation was prompted by the murders of Altecia Kortje and her 7-year-old daughter in Cape Town in June 2020.
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She said the matter was first brought to her office by the deputy minister that same month.
The mother and child were murdered by Kortje's ex-boyfriend Ryan Smith, shortly after she was turned away from the Bellville Magistrates Court after seeking a protection order against him.
Gcaleka said while that investigation did not find any wrongdoing by court officials, it revealed serious systemic issues in attending to GBV matters.
"It is then from there that we picked up evidence that the manner in which gender-based violence matters are being addressed is not in line with the Constitution, not in line with the legislation, and several prescripts that have been developed by government," she added.
Smith is serving a life sentence for the double murders.
GBV CENTRES POORLY RESOURCED, COPS LACK TRAINING - PP
Advocate Gcaleka's investigation revealed that the majority of the country's magistrates court lack capacity and proper management systems to be able to assist GBV survivors.
Gcaleka also highlighted lack of training within SAPS members - as well as poorly resourced GBV centres by the Social Development Department.
She adds that cooperation between government departments is crucial in dealing with GBV cases.
"There is a lack of multi-sectoral approach where all relevant departments can work together and have an integrated electronic data management system in relation to gender-based-violence."
The three departments have been given between six to seven months to come up with plans to fix all the issues highlighted in the report.