Nearly 4,000 people have been sentenced to prison over an 18-month period for crimes related to gender-based violence (GBV), according to newly released police statistics. The figures come as South Africa marks the start of its 16 Days of Activism campaign against gender-based violence this week.
National Police spokesperson Athlenda Mathe announced that authorities have ramped up efforts to hold offenders accountable. Between April 2023 and September 2024, the Family Violence, Child Protection, and Sexual Offenses (FCS) unit achieved significant results in its fight against GBV. During this period, 16,668 raids were conducted nationwide, resulting in the arrest of 29,150 perpetrators. The courts handed down a range of sentences, including 556 life sentences, 480 sentences of 20 years or more, and 998 sentences of 10 to 19 years.
Mathe emphasized the importance of these efforts, stating, “These actions are part of our commitment to hold offenders accountable for the devastating impact of GBV on our communities.”
The announcement follows the release of crime statistics by Police Minister Senzo Mchunu, which revealed a decline in certain crimes, though the murders of women and children remain alarmingly high. The police continue their efforts to address these ongoing issues as part of broader national efforts to combat gender-based violence.