Sexual offences courts reconsidered
2013-02-12 14:23
Video
2013-02-12 11:26
Watch residents, the ANC Youth League and DA, chant outside the Bredasdorp Magistrates Court to express their outrage at the rape and murder of teenager Anene Booysen. WATCH
Johannesburg - A task team is looking at what resources will
be needed to reopen the sexual offences courts, the justice department said on
Tuesday.
"Following recent cases of sexual violence in the
Western Cape and other parts of the country, minister Jeff Radebe decided to
give an update on the work done by the task [team] he established last year to
look into resuscitation of the sexual offences courts," spokesperson
Mthunzi Mhaga said.
In December, the ministerial task team reviewing the closure
of sexual offences courts recommended they be reinstated.
Mhaga said a timeframe for when this would happen had not
been drawn up, but said Radebe was treating the matter seriously.
Anene Booysen case
There was a public outcry about the rape and murder of
Bredasdorp teenager Anene Booysen.
Booysen, 17, was found raped and severely injured at a
construction site on the morning of 2 February and died in hospital that night.
After the story had been widely reported by the media, the
hashtag #StopRape was trending on Twitter, and anti-rape marches were organised
around South Africa.
Radebe has previously indicated that sexual offences courts
will be reopened soon.
"We want to be thorough in the process of auditing and
also allocating enough funds, and also allocating the relevant people with the
required skills," Radebe said.
"People should exercise a bit of patience, but we're
committed to ensuring that the process moves as fast as possible."
- SAPA
