Today, hundreds of Democratic Alliance (DA) supporters marched to the Germiston Central Police Station to demand increased Gender Based Violence resources at Police Stations.
Note to Editors: Please find English soundbite here and here, and an Afrikaans soundbite here
Pictures can be found here, here, here, here and here
Ekurhuleni recorded over 1 600 murders in 2024, with precincts like Primrose and Germiston ranking among the most dangerous in South Africa. Despite the crisis, many stations operate with critical staff and vehicle shortages, and gender-based violence victims are left without proper support.
It is no wonder South Africa finds itself in the midst of a Gender Based Violence crisis. Out of 1,154 police stations, only 134 have dedicated GBV desks. This means that most victims have no support.
National Government is failing to protect the people of Ekurhuleni. Communities are terrorised daily while SAPS remains understaffed, under-equipped, and overwhelmed. This is not just a policing failure, it’s a human rights failure.
Our memorandum demands:
- Increased visible policing and crime prevention in hotspots;
- Fully operational vehicles and properly staffed police stations;
- Strengthened GBV support services at all precincts;
- Transparent, quarterly crime statistics; and
- A dedicated crime-reduction strategy for Ekurhuleni.
The scourge of GBV must be addressed, and it must happen soon. South Africa is failing its women.