Without mentioning the numbers related to these rape incidents which took place in these two provinces, the Police Minister, Bheki Cele, said these provinces are the only two provinces that have reported increases in the number of rape cases. Cele, who released quarter one crime statistics for 2022/23 in Pretoria recently, indicated that 9 516 rape cases were reported at SAPS between April and June 2022 across the country. Cele said 3 780 of the rapes took place in the homes of the rapists or houses of the victims whilst 1 546 people were raped in public places such as streets, parks and beaches. The public transportation system is another area of concern where the third most rapes occur.

OFM News recently reported about the rapes of minors in these two provinces, where a 17-year-old was raped in the Northern Cape and a 10-year-old in the North West.

In this North West rape case, a 40-year-old man died in hospital after being assaulted by irate residents in Jouberton at Klerksdorp, following rape accusations. The man was deemed as a person of interest in an alleged rape case of a missing 10-year-old girl in extension 1 but was later regarded as a suspect by the police after receiving the results of a medical examination that confirmed that the 10-year-old was raped.

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In the Northern Cape, a medical doctor in Kimberley was recently nabbed by the police for allegedly raping a 17-year-old patient during a medical examination.

ALSO READ - #GBV: Doctor arrested for allegedly raping teen

During the release of the statistics, Cele mentions that “public transportation such as buses, taxis and trains are the third most likely places where rapes take place. Between April and June this year, 286 rapists were convicted through investigative work done by the Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offences (FCS) Unit. The SAPS will continue to prioritise gender-based violence (GBV) related crimes.”

The provincial police commissioners are also expected to unpack each province’s crime statistics.

OFM News