Gauteng has recorded a sharp increase in sexual offences in the second quarter of the 2024/2025 financial year. This emerged during the release of the provincial crime statistics in Boksburg in Johannesburg.

These include rape, sexual assault, attempted sexual offences and domestic violence. It comes as the country is currently observing 16 Days of Activism Against Women and Child Abuse.

Gauteng Provincial Police Commissioner Tommy Mthombeni says Operation Shanela is committed to fighting the scourge of abuse against women and children.

“Sexual offences and rape are a concern and when we outline our presentation in terms of crime statistics, we have indicated some of the measures which we are trying to do and we really appeal to the community to work closely with us. Because some of these crimes really do happen indoors and when you look at the driving force, you will realize that for the quarter, we manage to keep in touch with activities and engagements to solve the problem with over 97,000 programs focused on adults,” says Mthombeni.

Meanwhile, Lesufi has joined the ANC Women’s League embarking on a march to the Union Buildings in Pretoria, against gender-based violence and femicide, hand over a memorandum of demands to President Cyril Ramaphosa.

This year’s16 Days of Activism for No Violence Against Women and Children Campaign theme is ‘United for Justice, ending GBV and femicide in our lifetime’.

Lesufi says its concerning that gender-based violence cases keep on rising in Gauteng.

“Many other crimes are going down. It’s only gender-based violence. That is very stubborn. It’s galloping and we need to be honest. The first area to be honest with is the justice system. It needs to be strengthened and give us support. The second area, we must open up the debate for the abuse of drugs in particular alcohol. We must be frank and not address it with emotions. We know it creates jobs, sustains families, but the reality is if you check the  majority of those stats where women are attacked, car accidents, children abused, there’s an element of drugs. And I’m glad that there are many NGO’s that are starting to gather information there, and they’ll assist us,” says Lesufi.

Gauteng Crime Statistics | Concerns over the rise in sexual offences:

ANCWL March | Various organisations, alliance partners to be part of the march: