Johannesburg – Police in Gauteng arrested more than 500 people in connection with domestic violence and sexual assault cases in November, Gauteng police said on Sunday.
Such cases were expected to increase due to activities associated with the festive season "such as abuse of alcohol", Lt-Col Lungelo Dlamini said.
Of the total number of arrests, 258 suspects were arrested for sexual assault, including rape, exposing children to child pornography, abduction, sexual grooming of a mentally disabled person, and enticing to engage in sexual activity.
All the suspects were already facing criminal proceedings in various Magistrate's Courts, he said.
"The arrests for domestic violence were effected for contravention of prohibitions, conditions, and orders imposed in terms of a protection order; publication of information that discloses the identity of the parties to domestic violence proceedings; abuse and deliberate neglect of children; and exposing of family members to sexual acts."
Police appealed to victims to report any form of domestic violence – which led to more serious and violent crime – including rape, assault with intent do do grievous bodily harm, attempted murder, and murder.
Victims most affected were children, women, and the elderly.
The arrests included 48 in Kagiso, 31 in Randfontein, 29 in the Honeydew policing area, 21 in Kliptown, 19 in Orange Farm, and 15 in the Jeppe policing area.
Other arrests effected during November included 638 for assault, 347 for assault with intent to do grievous bodily harm, 196 for malicious damage to property, and 15 for murder, Dlamini said.