PRETORIA – As the country observes the 16 Days of Activism for No Violence Against Women & Children Campaign, the South African Police Service (SAPS) deemed it fit to pay gratitude to detectives in the Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offences Investigations (FCS) as well as the detectives within the Serial and Electronic FCS Crime Investigations (SECI) whose efforts often go unnoticed for contributing to a much better and safer South Africa.
Today, we introduce the nation to 39-year-old Sergeant Nkosinathi Nhleko.
Born and bred in Kabokweni in Mpumalanga, this member has 12 years’ service having joined the organisation in 2009.
Since joining the FCS unit in 2013, the member has put at least twelve serial rapists that were terrorizing women in Mpumalanga behind bars.
These twelve serial rapists were handed down a combined 31 life sentences and an additional 438 years.
Among these serial rapists was 37-year-old John Mashela Shongwe who was in May this year sentenced to nine life imprisonment terms and an additional 199 years for a host of GBV related crimes.
Shongwe and his two accomplices had been on a raping spree since 2012 before they were apprehended by members of the SAPS in 2019.
Shongwe was linked to more than 12 rape cases through DNA analysis.
It was Sergeant Nhleko and a team of experts within the SAPS that ensured the realisation of this conviction.
With his experience and exposure in working with victims and/or survivors of GBV, Sergeant Nhleko says the community plays the most important role in ensuring prevention of GBV as well as justice for GBV victims.
“Most GBV victims are afraid to report abuse because they are afraid to be judged and ridiculed by their own community. Communities need to start standing up and speaking out against abuse of their own family members and neighbours, this practice can go a long way in saving lives and in ensuring perpetrators are taken off our streets”, said Sergeant Nhleko.
As a specialised detective, he says the most important part of his job is to provide regular updates to victims on the progress of their cases and to most importantly remove the perpetrator from society to ensure that he or she can no longer reach more victims.”Seeing my survivors smile after seeing their perpetrators locked away gives me relief and makes me want to do more for my community”, said Sergeant Nhleko.
The FCS unit boasts 176 units nationwide and nine Serial and Electronic Crime FCS Investigation Units based at Provincial Offices across the country.
The South African Police Service is encouraging all citizens to download the #MySAPS app.The app allows citizens to share information more effectively by providing tip-offs anonymously through the app, finding the nearest police stations and facilities and offers quick access to all official SAPS social media platforms.
In addition, GBV survivors and those exposed to GBV related abuse are encouraged to click on the vulnerability services icon on the MySAPSApp to get a better understanding of what the FCS unit offers to GBV survivors and affected parties.
Source: South African Police Service