Times Of Swaziland: 124 RAPE CASES IN 3 MONTHS

124 RAPE CASES IN 3 MONTHS
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BY SIBONGILE SUKATI on 23/07/2015 04:14:00


MBABANE – Rape is on the rise and children aged 17 years and below are the
most affected.
Figures released by the police and tabled in parliament, present an alarming
picture of an increasingly violent society, particularly gainst women and
children. The figures show that in the past three months, 124 rape cases were
reported to the police.
This is an increase of 11.7 per cent when compared to the same period from April
to June last year as 111 cases were reported. The report, which was tabled by
the acting Prime Minister, Paul Dlamini, stated that the increase in the rape
cases was attributed to the public educational campaigns which were aimed at
changing the mindset and culture of concealing or sweeping matters under the
carpet also known as ‘Tibi tendlu’.
It should be noted that out of these cases, 51.6 per cent of the rape cases were
committed against children aged 17 years and below. There were also 10 cases of
attempted rape reported. The police said violence against vulnerable groups, in
particular women and children, still posed a serious safety and security concern
which brought social disorder, lifelong trauma, disintegration of the family
unit and in some instances the loss of life.
The police reported that there were 45 cases of statutory rape and 41 cases of
indecent assault. The report further stated that two people were sodomised while
three women were found to have illegally committed abortion.
The police said on the analysis of domestic violence cases this showed a
percentage increase of 12.9 per cent as there were 639 cases reported.  The
police said murder, armed robbery and general muggings had declined by 23 per
cent and five per cent respectively. While drug cases increased by 32 per cent
to 656 from last year’s 498.  There were 11 crimes of passion reported between
January and June 2015.