Domestic violence shambles

A shock report by the Independent Complaints Directorate reveals that, of 132 police stations audited by the directorate, only 14 fully complied with the requirements of the Domestic Violence Act.

The directorate's report, tabled in parliament last week, also found that:

• Copies of protection orders were not filed;
• Copies of warrants of arrest were not filed;
• There was a shortage of women officers to deal with domestic violence cases;
• Incidents of domestic violence were not recorded in the domestic violence register; and
• Protection orders were not served on abusers.

The report blamed lack of training in the provisions of the act, and inadequate management by station commanders.

"The lack of sufficient administrative teaching of the provisions of the Domestic Violence Act is apparent from the manner in which SAPS members complete the act registers and forms, and the lack of quality control by station commanders," the report said.

"It can be noted that the combination of a lack of training in record keeping and the general commitment and attitudes of some SAPS members handicap service delivery to the most vulnerable of groups, as emphasised in the 16 Days of Activism Campaign."

Lisa Vetten, director of women's rights group the Tshwaranang Legal Advocacy Centre, said the report was "not surprising".

"That has been the pattern since the implementation of the act."

Vetten said the police failed domestic violence victims because "some of them don't seem to know what the act says".

She said the police failed to comply with the act for eight years because there were no consequences.

The Institute of Security Studies' crime and justice programme's senior researcher, Johan Burger, blamed station commanders.

"At many stations there is no proper command and control, many commanders are incompetent. Group commanders and supervisors lack skills, experience, commitment and discipline."