Zuma: SA is not ‘rape capital of the world’

South Africa's President Jacob Zuma (L) poses for a photograph with Mandla Mandela, grandson of the late former President Nelson Mandela, after unveiling a 9-metre (30-feet) bronze statue of Nelson Mandela as part of the Day of Reconciliation Celebrations at the Union Buildings in Pretoria December 16, 2013. The day also marks the commemoration of the centenary of the Union Buildings, one of the most iconic structures in South Africa. The unveiling of the statue is intended as acknowledgement of the contribution of the first president of a democratic South Africa, a symbol of national reconciliation and unity. REUTERS/Thomas Mukoya (SOUTH AFRICA - Tags: OBITUARY POLITICS ANNIVERSARY TRAVEL)

South Africa's President Jacob Zuma (L) poses for a photograph with Mandla Mandela, grandson of the late former President Nelson Mandela, after unveiling a 9-metre (30-feet) bronze statue of Nelson Mandela as part of the Day of Reconciliation Celebrations at the Union Buildings in Pretoria December 16, 2013. The day also marks the commemoration of the centenary of the Union Buildings, one of the most iconic structures in South Africa. The unveiling of the statue is intended as acknowledgement of the contribution of the first president of a democratic South Africa, a symbol of national reconciliation and unity. REUTERS/Thomas Mukoya (SOUTH AFRICA - Tags: OBITUARY POLITICS ANNIVERSARY TRAVEL)

Published Dec 19, 2013

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Johannesburg - South Africa may be faced with an “accelerating rape crisis” but the suggestion that the country is the “rape capital” of the world is incorrect.

This is according to President Jacob Zuma, who said that the issue of women and children had always been a priority for the government, particularly crimes against women and children.

“Cabinet ministers and their departments, particularly the JCPS (justice, crime prevention and security) cabinet cluster, are working tirelessly to implement initiatives to deal with the crime of rape,” said Zuma in a written parliamentary reply released on Wednesday.

Zuma was responding to Cope MP Thozamile Botha, who had asked the president if he had been informed that last year

Interpol had named South Africa as the “world’s rape capital” and that a certain study had found that one in four South African men had admitted to raping a woman.

Botha also asked Zuma whether he had instructed his cabinet to implement “forceful” measures to bring this “shameful crisis” under control.

“The suggestion that South Africa is the rape capital of the world is incorrect.

“The Interpol secretariat general in France has indicated to the Interpol desk in South Africa that they have no record of the phrase ‘rape capital of the world’ in their publications,” said Zuma.

He said a number of initiatives had been taken to address the “accelerating rape crisis in the country”.

These included the re-establishment of the Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offences (FCS) units.

“The units were increased from 66 units to 176 units and from 1 100 personnel to 2 528 personnel in total.

“These 176 FCS units have been well resourced to enhance the effectiveness of the fight against crimes against women and children.

Since the re-establishment of the FCS units in the past three years, FCS investigations had managed to secure more than 1 100 life sentences for rape, said Zuma.

With all the challenges facing the national operation of the register for sexual offenders, there had been notable progress.

“The number of registered convicted sex offenders has increased from 2 792 names that appeared on the register as at March 31, 2013 to 11 418 names as at October 31, 2013. In that month alone, 3 384 sex offenders were successfully registered,” he said.

Zuma’s response follows the arrest of a man for the brutal rape of a six-week-old baby in the Northern Cape.

The Star

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