Underage drinking contributing to high rate of GBV – Cele
Minister of Police Bheki Cele claims underage drinking is one of the contributing factors to the high rate of gender-based violence in South Africa.
Cele says underage girls who consume alcohol are exposing themselves to criminal activities, such as sexual assault and harassment.
He spoke at the national launch of SAPS’ safer festive season operations in Khayelitsha on Friday.
"I was at an illegal shebeen in Durban last week. Half of the people that were drinking there were underage. They were resisting bangtshela ukuthi angibayeke baphuze (telling me to allow them to continue drinking liquor). It was 02:10 in the morning, they were underage kids, and most of them were girls.
“From there, they are going to cry rape, they are going to be taken 'ngenkani' (by force) to go and sleep with those boys, and they will be crying rape, and women abuse, when they availed themselves to criminality," said Cele.
READ: Cele under fire for latest crime stats
The minister again urged communities not to protect criminals but to work with police to put them behind bars.
"You must work with the police. Don't hide those criminals among yourselves because they hurt you. If you protect those criminals, they will come back for you, do not ask us where we are because you take on the police on behalf of criminals.”
At the same time, he urges police officers to respect the law and show empathy during arrests.
"You are policing under the new dispensation where people have rights. When you arrest people, do it with a smile. Just enforce the law because it is important.
"However, when you are dealing with criminals who believe that they run the country, deal with them. Don't be kind to them; hit and hit hard. If you need to wipe everything, then so be it. Do not tell me about human rights. Ensure that criminals are squeezed. Squeeze the oxygen out of criminals," said Cele.
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