Sexual assault cases go cold as medical reports pile up unread
A tweet by a medical doctor showing a file containing medical reports that were still to be collected by police from a public hospital has sparked outrage on social media.
Sibongile Tito posted a picture of a stack of forms with medical evidence of injuries sustained by patients who had opened cases of sexual and physical assault with the police.
The J88 forms are part of police dockets and are completed by medical doctors, who list injuries sustained by victims of assault.
Tito did not identify which hospital the forms were from, but said some of the forms dated back to 2018. She said this meant those cases wouldn't have progressed.
A stack of forms with medical evidence of injuries sustained by patients who opened cases of sexual &/ physical assault with SAPS, awaiting collection by SAPS from 1 of our state hospitals.Some date back to 2018, meaning the cases never got anywhere. A catastrophic system failure pic.twitter.com/KENmhVECr4
— Sibo Tito (@SibongileTito) February 27, 2019
One Twitter user said Tito could have simply dropped off the files at the nearest police station for delivery to the correct stations. Another offered to help deliver each file to the relevant police station.
But Tito said this would not work. She said the information contained in the forms was confidential and having third parties deliver it would be a risk.
Tito said this had happened before.
Thanks but that would not work. The information is confidential and having third parties deliver it would risk having it tempered with, this has happened before and the resolution was to make it SAPS' responsibility to collect it from the health facilities patient are examined at
— Sibo Tito (@SibongileTito) February 27, 2019
The police seemed not to be aware of the matter and invited Tito to bring the matter to the attention of the SAPS national management intervention unit.
Good day, we advise you bring this matter to the attention of SAPS National Management Intervention Unit, call: 0800 333 177 or E-mail detailed info to: ComplaintsNodalPoint@saps.gov.za. Alternatively you may also contact #sapsFCS Unit. ME pic.twitter.com/zry6C9g8nl
— SA Police Service (@SAPoliceService) February 27, 2019
It me 6 months to get an IO to go collect my J88, meaning, for that six months, the perpetrator who had butchered me alive with a broken bottle and almost killed me was walking freely. The Doctor had to write a new medical report after they could not find it. pic.twitter.com/N0cPhjlsgq
— #HandsOffCasterSemenya (@FrankNkwanyane) February 27, 2019
Commenting on her tweet, one person related his struggle to get his investigating officer to collect the form after he had been seriously assaulted.
A number of people expressed outrage over her revelations.
These survivors need support and justice. We remind everyone, if you can't speak to anyone, speak to us on our 24 hour helpline 021 447 9762. #SpeakToUs
— Rape Crisis CapeTown (@RapeCrisis) February 27, 2019
This cannot be our reality guys we have to take things like this seriously thank you for bringing this to our attention
— Babycub🐯 (@YonieVee) February 27, 2019
@SAPoliceService @FabAcademic @SABCNewsOnline clearly this is pathetic and shameful, how do we even run to government if they can't even work with one another.... 😔
— Zwide!!!! (@ReginaldMkhats1) February 28, 2019