Justice rare for rape victims

Convictions secured in only an eighth of 8 512 cases reported in East Cape

IN a shocking disclosure, police have revealed that only one in every eight rape cases reported in the Eastern Cape leads to a conviction, while the remaining cases are either sidelined by red tape or thrown out by the courts.

According to figures provided by Police Minister Nathi Nhleko, of the 8 512 rapes reported in the Eastern Cape – the highest in the country – only 1 099 resulted in convictions.

Reacting to the disclosures yesterday, a national anti-rape campaigner and Port Elizabeth rape victim lashed out at the law-enforcement and justice system as a whole, saying it was full of “loopholes” for rapists.

A prominent national anti-gender violence and child abuse group also says that the extent of the problem is vastly underestimated.

-Gareth Wilson and Shaun Gillham