THE Western Cape Police Ombudsman, Major General Oswald Reddy (Retired), takes the opportunity of 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence (GBV) to urge members of the public to report service inefficiencies in SAPS to the Police Ombudsman, especially cases of GBV.
General Reddy said, ‘We offer a valuable service to the public. If you are not happy with the service you received from the SAPS, you come to us, and we will follow-up and assist you. And we take the 16 Days of Activism as an opportunity for us to say to victims of GBV who have reported their matters to SAPS, but who are unhappy with the service they received, “we are here to support you: reach out”.’
The National Instruction 7 of 1999 on Domestic Violence provides clear directives on how SAPS members must respond to and assist victims of domestic violence. Some of these include:
- A complainant may approach the SAPS for assistance at any time, irrespective of when or where the incident took place, and SAPS members may under no circumstances turn complainants away,
- Complainants must be treated in a professional manner and must be assured that action will be taken,
- A SAPS member who attends to a domestic violence complaint must take all reasonable steps to ensure the safety of the complainant, including securing the scene and searching for and seizing any dangerous weapons such as a firearm without a warrant,
According to the instruction, Station Commanders must compile a list of organisations in the area and their contact details offering services which complainants and victims of domestic violence might be in need of in their time of crisis, including counselling services, alternative accommodation, medical treatment and more. This list must be available to complainants and victims of domestic violence.
General Reddy: ‘The Domestic Violence Act ensures that victims of domestic violence have maximum protection from abusive domestic relationships. The Police Ombudsman was established to assist individuals who are not happy with the service they received from SAPS. If you are not happy with the service you received when you laid your domestic violence complaint, reach out.’
Since its inception in December 2014, the Police Ombudsman has received a total of 4 610 complaints from the public. The office conducts each complaint impartially, without fear, favour, bias or prejudice in accordance with the South African Constitution.
For more information about the Police Ombudsman and to lodge complaints about SAPS service delivery complaints, about domestic violence or any other matter, visit the website https://www.westerncape.gov.za/police-ombudsmanor email ombudsman@wcpo.gov.za
- Issued by Ms Kim Seale, Head of Office, Office of the Western Cape Police Ombudsman
