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Democratic Alliance (DA) in the Western Cape expresses deep concern and disappointment at the persistent failures of SAPS to protect survivors who turn to the police for help.

A response by the South African Police Service to a DA parliamentary question has revealed that between 2020 and 2025, a staggering 47 457 charges were registered for the violation of protection order conditions in the Western Cape. These orders exist to shield survivors from further harm. Yet despite the volume of cases, only 6 486 accused persons were convicted during this period. This equates to a 13.6% conviction rate, which is unacceptably low when the safety of those who have already sought protection orders is directly threatened.

South Africans continue to place their trust in the criminal justice system, yet the system is not meeting its constitutional duty to safeguard those who are most vulnerable. These numbers confirm what civil society, survivors, and advocates have been saying for years: gender-based violence is a national crisis, and without stronger accountability, the perpetrators of this violence will continue to walk freely among us.

We call on President Cyril Ramaphosa to reaffirm government’s commitment to tackling GBV with the urgency it demands. A national crisis requires national action in policy, implementation, monitoring, and resourcing. The gap between reported violations and actual convictions shows a system that is failing survivors at the most critical moment.

Benedicta van Minnen, MPP and DA Western Cape Spokesperson on Police Oversight and Community Safety, said: “If South Africa is to protect the vulnerable, conviction rates must increase, investigations must be thorough, and SAPS must be held to the highest standards of professionalism. Violators of protection orders cannot be allowed to roam the streets without consequence while survivors live in fear.”

We urge SAPS leadership, the Presidency, and the Department of Justice to address this matter with urgency. Survivors deserve safety, justice, and a system that enforces consequences when protection orders are violated.

Issued by Benedicta van Minnen MPP - DA Western Cape Spokesperson on Police Oversight and Community Safety