The Democratic Alliance (DA) in the Northern Cape will embark on an intense crime watching operation in Upington to monitor the progress of criminal investigations and court cases relating to violent attacks on women and children. This follows last week’s assault and rape on a 59-year old widow in her home, in the early hours of the morning.

The DA strongly condemns the rape and will not sit back and watch as this evil trend in the Upington area continues.

Over the past couple of years, Upington has become a crime hotspot with brutal incidents of gender-based violence (GBV) becoming notorious in this town.

Last year, a 71-year old retired businesswoman was found murdered in her pool, at her home. A few months later, an 80-year old woman from Middelpos was also found murdered in her home.

In 2019, there was the tragic death of an 82-year-old rape victim, who passed away as a result of injuries sustained during a sexual assault in Blikkiesdorp, the rape and murder of a young girl in Bellview, and the torturous murder of a 27-year old mentally disabled woman in the Morning Glory Cemetery.

Enough is enough.

I will be engaging with both the South African Police Service (SAPS) and the municipality, to see how we can better work together to help combat GBV. This needs to become a priority and should entail improving the police visibility, as well as functionality and efficacy of neighbourhood watch groups in each and every ward.

I will further put together a roster in respect of the cases of GBV mentioned above, as well as others that come to my attention, so that myself and fellow DA councillors can monitor the cases all the way up until judgment and sentencing is delivered.

If we are going to ensure that criminals are brought to book, we need to stop being spectators of crime. By keeping our finger on the pulse, we place pressure on the authorities, we keep communities informed and we ensure that justice does indeed take its course. This must include perpetrators of such crimes receiving maximum prison sentences, ensuring that they do not get the opportunity to become repeat offenders and destroy more lives.

Issued by DA