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SAPS Stakeholders’ Meeting Highlights Major Concerns
The Brakpan SAPS held its monthly stakeholders’ meeting at the Thabong Wedding and Conference Centre on September 27. Although the turnout was low and the meeting experienced delays, it proved an efficient gathering.
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Colonel Eugene Scheepers, Head of Detectives at the Brakpan SAPS, addressed questions related to crime intelligence. Gerhard Cilliers chaired the meeting from Afriforum, while Lieutenant-Colonel Peet van der Schyff provided an overview of recent crime statistics.
During the past month, compared to the same period the previous year, the following crime increases were reported:
- Common assault and domestic violence continue to rise.
- Business, house, and aggravated robberies have increased between 18:00 and midnight.
- Incidences of rape and hijackings are on the rise.
- Theft from motor vehicles has seen a significant 140% increase, with most cases occurring between noon and 18:00.
- General theft and house burglaries also increased, often taking place on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays, and Saturdays between 06:00 and noon.
Colonel Scheepers reported several successful arrests during the month, particularly related to business robberies, emphasising the effectiveness of stop-and-search operations. He credited citizen’s arrests by various patrolling groups and stakeholders as contributing significantly to apprehending criminals.
The meeting also addressed concerns about mining trucks damaging unsupported roads and seeking retribution against those reporting them to the EMPD (Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Police Department). Residents were encouraged to document cases of illegal dumping with photographic evidence and report them to the EMPD.
The police expressed concerns about a drastic increase in theft from motor vehicle reports and suspected that many of these cases were false reports intended for insurance fraud. The SAPS announced plans to collaborate with businesses to access security footage to verify these reports. Individuals found to have submitted false reports will face arrests for perjury and insurance fraud.
Among other concerns discussed, one notable issue was the maladministration of J88 forms in domestic violence and assault cases. Victims were facing obstacles as they were required to produce a completed J88 form from a state medical provider to open a case docket. However, state medical providers requested a case docket number before issuing a J88 form, creating a frustrating cycle. The meeting concluded without a resolution to this problem.
These challenges highlight a concerning trend in South Africa, where victims, particularly of gender-based violence, face hurdles when reporting crimes, potentially discouraging them from seeking justice. Additionally, a case of a SAPS member threatening a victim was brought to light, emphasising the need for improved handling of domestic violence and assault cases. The SAPS and stakeholders plan to address these issues and design educational programs for members and hospitals to better manage such cases.
Source: SAPS’ stakeholders’ meeting raises serious concerns
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Photo: Supplied by Brakpan Herald
