South African President Cyril Ramaphosa on Tuesday reminded his compatriots that it is a crime not to report sexual offences to law enforcement officials in the country.
The president made the announcement when he addressed the nation in his weekly message in view of an alleged gang rape of eight women in Krugersdorp last week in which over 80 suspects appeared in court for the crime on Monday.
He said that according to new legislation, every person now was legally bound to report sexual offences.
Ramaphosa called on communities in the area to work with the police to “ensure that these sexual criminals are apprehended and prosecuted.”
“Rapists have no place in our society. Our communities must not shelter criminals in their midst,” Ramaphosa said.
He added: “I call on anyone who has information about this kind of crime to report it to the authorities so that the perpetrators can be arrested.”
According to him, “there is always someone in our communities who knows something, who heard something, or who even witnessed something.”
“The problem is many of us choose to keep quiet because the perpetrator is a friend, a partner, or a colleague. Or we are just afraid and fear victimisation,” he said.
He reminded the Krugersdorp community that “all tip-offs received by the South African Police Service’s Crime Stop contact centre are treated with confidentiality.”
“In addition to our moral obligation, we all now have a legal duty to report to authorities when we have knowledge, reasonable belief, or suspicion that a sexual offence has been committed against a vulnerable person. Remember, it is now a crime not to report such a sexual offence,” he said.
He added: “This is just part of one of three laws that I signed earlier this year that strengthen the fight against gender-based violence and offer greater support and protection to survivors – who are mainly women and children.”
NM/jn/APA