KwaDukuza branches of the African Christian Democratic Party (ACDP) have welcomed with much jubilation the ruling to sentence Thulani Nzama to 25 years imprisonment for raping a 24-year old woman. The ACDP acknowledges that rape statistics in SA as a whole are unacceptably high. We know that 1300 women are raped in South Africa every day, while 90% of rapes are not reported to the police. With the conviction rate for violent crimes only about 10% in SA, it poses a safety threat to women in our land.
The ACDP commends the local court for the sentence it meted out. Sentences like these that will deter this inhumane behaviour and put humanity and morality back into our society. We also need a government and a justice system that increases the conviction rate for violent crimes like rape and hands down tougher sentences for all sexual offences. Government should moreover consider banning pornography because it fosters a culture of disrespect towards women.
The ACDP also believes that the SAPS should intensify its sexual offences awareness campaigns. We recommend that SAPS introduce such community awareness campaigns through its sector policing forums. We call on government to ensure that all police stations have friendly victim empowerment facilities with staff that have been specially trained to take evidence from traumatised victims.
All in all we welcome the sentence meted out. We believe that it has sent out a strong and clear message to sexual offenders who prey on our women. Justice has been done.
ANNET ELIZABETH SEWRAJ
ACDP Women’s Leaders for KZN
Ballito