Police seek community help amid rising rape and assault
Peter Luhanga
- Sexual offences in Milnerton, including rape and sexual assault, surged significantly in the last quarter of 2024.
- Police urge sexual assault victims not to wash or change their clothes after an attack in order not to damage DNA evidence that is crucial for securing a conviction.
- Unauthorised street modifications, such as extended driveways and other obstacles on public roads, are creating hazards for police vehicles responding to emergencies.
Sexual offences in the Milnerton policing precinct, which includes Dunoon, surged by almost 60% in the last three months of 2024, according to the latest crime statistics.
Released by Police Minister Senzo Mchunu on 21 February, the data shows a 50% increase in rape cases, with sexual assaults also rising sharply.
The figures, which cover crimes committed between 1 October and 31 December 2024, show that 38 sexual offences were reported, up from 24 in the previous quarter. Rape cases rose from 20 cases to 30 – the highest number in five years. Meanwhile reported cases of sexual assault increased from two to eight.
Against this backdrop, police held a community imbizo at Dunoon Community Hall on Saturday, 8 March, during which Milnerton Station Commander Colonel Helena Mouton told residents the increase in reported cases was concerning.
“Most of the instances are induced by alcohol … the victim and perpetrator were drinking together before the incident, or the victims and perpetrator know each other,” said Mouton.
Although the crime figures are from October to December, Mouton. said reported sexual offences have remained high into the new year.
“From December to now we saw a peak. We want to engage the community to know what is happening,” she said.
Victims of sexual assault were urged not to wash or change clothes after an attack. It could result in crucial DNA evidence being destroyed, said Captain Loganathan Chety, head of the Family Violence, Child Protection, and Sexual Offences (FCS) unit.
Chety said preserving forensic evidence is vital for catching the perpetrator.
“DNA is very crucial to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that the accused in a sexual offence matter committed the crime. DNA can identify the perpetrator and connect them to the case.”
He said cases related to gender-based violence cannot be withdrawn: only a magistrate has the power to strike them off the court roll.
Rape also took place within a marriage, he said. “A wife must give verbal permission (for her husband) to have sex with her. If your wife says no, you must stop, no matter how close you are to finishing, you must stop.”
Detective branch commander Colonel Dolf Jonker said that a complainant needed to attend at a perpetrator’s first court appearance “so they get protection order immediately”.
“It doesn’t matter if he gives you his pay but he’s not allowed to beat you and have sex if you don’t want it,” said Jonker.
Zoleka Takule of Cape Town Correctional Services said offenders convicted of sexual offences are treated as “high risk”.
Concerns over policing
Members of the Dunoon neighbourhood watch raised several questions concerning policing and crime in the township.
Zukiswa Khaphakati says she was frustrated when patrol vans ignored residents’ requests to stop and attend an ongoing crime.
Khaphakati said officers would tell them they were not there for the specific incident, and continue on their way.
Mouton responded, saying cases are categorised based on their severity, with “alpha” cases meaning the caller is in immediate danger. She said if the patrol vans were attending a more serious issue, they would address that first.
“But please, when calling 10111, don’t say there is an immediate threat if something has already happened, as this could divert resources away from someone who is actually experiencing an immediate threat,” she said.
Visible policing commander Colonel Muneeb Africa said he was disappointed by the low attendance at the Dunoon police imbizo, noting that 75% of crime in the Milnerton policing precinct came from Dunoon.
Africa said he had hoped the community would show greater interest in hearing from senior SAPS officers about strategies to tackle rising crime. He said local business owners and single mothers selling fruit on the roadside were not safe, stressing that the safety of the community remained a serious concern.
“What it actually shows is that most of the community members are not interested in the crime in the area, or just don’t care about it, but when it affects them, they approach the police and then say the police don’t work,” said Africa.
He said policing is not just the responsibility of the police but requires a partnership, with the community joining hands to fight crime.
“Police can’t be in your area 24/7, that is given. That’s why we need the community’s eyes and ears to assist in the fight against crime.”
He said he was shocked to discover that residents had extended RDP houses onto pedestrian sidewalks, with some constructing driveways and placing cement slabs extending onto the main road. This, he said, created a hazard for police vehicles rushing to crime scenes, as they had to slow down to manoeuvre around these obstacles.
“How can you build a driveway on the main road? At one point, I had to stop immediately. Imagine it’s at night, and we’re responding to a murder case – it’s dark, and that puts our safety at risk … but I’m not here to lecture you, I’m here to promote the culture of collaboration.”