Police Oversight and Com-munity Safety
In respect of the institutional capacity of the South African Police Service (SAPS) and specialised victim support infrastructure in the province:
- (a) What is the current average detective caseload for investigators assigned to Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offences (FCS) units across the province and (b) how does this figure compare with the (i) national norm or (ii) recommended caseload per investigator;
- how many (a) funded vacancies and (b) unfunded vacancies currently exist in FCS units in the province, broken down by (i) rank and (ii) police district;
- what formal assessment has her Department conducted regarding the impact of these deficiencies on the (a) quality of investigations and (b) successful prosecution of offences related to gender-based violence (GBV) in the province;
- (a) how many (i) Thuthuzela care centres and (ii) designated victim-friendly rooms (VFRs) are currently operational in the province and (b) what are the specific facilities where each is located?
(1) (a) The current average detective caseload for investigators assigned to Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offences (FCS) units across the province is 1:45.
(b) (i) No national norm exists that prescribes an average caseload per investigating officer assigned to Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offences (FCS) units. Caseloads may vary between units and investigators depending on factors such as the nature, complexity and volume of cases reported within a particular area.
(ii) There is no prescribed or recommended caseload per investigating officer. The allocation and management of cases are undertaken in accordance with operational requirements, available resources and the specific circumstances of each investigation.
(2) (a) The South African Police Service (SAPS) cannot reveal specific human resource allocations at provincial, district or station level due to security considerations and operational requirements. The disclosure of such information may compromise policing strategies, endanger SAPS members, and create potential security risks by exposing operational capacities and vulnerabilities; however, the staffing complement at the FCS Units in the province is currently 83%.
(b) (i) Refer to response in paragraph (2)(a).
(ii) Refer to response in paragraph (2)(a).
THE MINISTER OF POLICE OVERSIGHT AND COMMUNITY SAFETY TO REPLY:
6. (3) (a) The Department of Police Oversight and Community Safety assesses the availability of Victim Friendly Rooms (VFRs) at police station level. Thus far, all 152 police stations except few, have VFRs which are accessible to people living with physical disability. The stations without VFRs, use other offices and boardrooms to attend to victims of Gender Based Violence when they present themselves at the police stations.
(b) The question on the prosecution of offences related to Gender-based violence (GBV) falls within the ambit of National Prosecuting Authority (NPA), hence the Department is unable to respond.
THE MINISTER OF POLICE OVERSIGHT AND COMMUNITY SAFETY WAS INFORMED AS FOLLOWS:
The reply of the South African Police Service (SAPS):
(4) (a) (i) Thuthuzela care centres - 10
(ii) Designated Victim-Friendly Rooms (VFR) at FCS Units – 13.
Additionally, all 152 Police Stations in the Western Cape have a functioning Victim-Friendly Room.
(b) Western Cape Thuthuzela care centres
Province | District | TCC Site | Location Details |
Western Cape | City of Cape Town | Atlantis TCC | Wesfleur Hospital, Wesfleur Circle, Atlantis, 7349 |
Western Cape | City of Cape Town | Heideveld TCC | Heideveld Emergency Centre, Heideveld Road, Heideveld, 7764 |
Western Cape | City of Cape Town | Karl Bremer Bellville TCC | Karl Bremer Hospital, M5 Building, Cnr Mike Pienaar & Frans Conradie Blvd, Bellville, 7530 |
Western Cape | City of Cape Town | Khayelitsha TCC | Khayelitsha District Hospital, Cnr Walter Sisulu & Steve Biko, Khayelitsha, 7784 |
Western Cape | City of Cape Town | Mitchells Plain TCC | Mitchells Plain Hospital, 8 A Z Berman Drive, Lentegeur, 7785 |
Western Cape | City of Cape Town | Victoria Hospital Wynberg TCC | Victoria Hospital, Clinic Forensic Unit, 1 Alphen Road, Wynberg, 7800 |
Western Cape | Cape Winelands | Paarl TCC | Paarl Hospital, Hospital Street, Paarl, 7646 |
Western Cape | Cape Winelands | Stellenbosch TCC | Cnr Helshoogte & Protea Roads, Idas Valley, Stellenbosch, 7600 |
Western Cape | Cape Winelands | Worcester TCC | Worcester Hospital, Murray Street, Worcester, 6849 |
Western Cape | Garden Route | George TCC | George Provincial Hospital, Cnr Davidson & Langenhoven Roads, Heatherlands, George, 6529 |
