BREAKING DOWN SILOS TO ENSURE THE SAFETY OF THE VULNERABLE

By Cuma Pantshwa

• Despite the role of the criminal justice system in protecting women, South Africa continues to face significant issues, particularly around gender-based violence (GBV). Mr. Unathi Ngumla, Portfolio Manager for the Integrated Justice System (IJS), highlighted the critical need for a more coordinated approach between government bodies and the private sector to improve service delivery and tackle these systemic issues.
• The IJS, which facilitates seamless information sharing between various stakeholders such as law enforcement, courts, correctional services, and social services, aims to bridge gaps caused by the fragmentation of the system. Technology can help prevent GBV and support survivors, but more integration and cooperation is necessary.
• To improve response times and outcomes, Mr. Ngumla emphasised the importance of data sharing between departments like the Department of Social Development (DSD) and the South African Police Service (SAPS). The IJS allows law enforcement agencies to track criminals using biometric data and trends, which helps reduce secondary victimisation and enhances service delivery.

In South Africa, the criminal justice system is intended to protect women, but needs much improvement. This harsh reality was underscored by Mr Unathi Ngumla, Portfolio Manager for the Integrated Justice System (IJS), who stressed the pivotal role technology can play in bridging gaps and removing bottlenecks that hinder effective service delivery. Mr Ngumla emphasised the urgent need for a more efficient and integrated approach within both government and the private sector to tackle crime and the widespread issue of gender-based violence (GBV).

A recurring theme from the discussions, which Mr Ngumla supported, was the significant challenge posed by the lack of coordination among various stakeholders—a gap that the Integrated Justice System (IJS) aims to address. The IJS enables seamless information sharing and coordination between law enforcement agencies, courts, correctional services, and social services. “Silos and fragmentation hinder our progress,” said Ngumla, Portfolio Manager of the IJS. “It’s vital to share information swiftly and work together to ensure prevention and a more effective response to GBVF, providing survivors with the support they deserve. While much work is being done, coordination is still lacking.”

Mr Ngumla highlighted the grim reality of women’s safety in South Africa, explaining that the criminal justice system is supposed to be the primary safeguard, but too often it fails. His presentation outlined how criminals move through the justice system and demonstrated how critical data from the IJS could inform policy and improve services for vulnerable people. For instance, social workers and NGOs interact with a number of GBV cases, many of which are not reported to SAPS. Mr Ngumla continued, highlighting how vital the exchange of information is in helping law enforcement officials and the victims of crime. “What we can do as DSD is to feed SAPS with the information collected from DSD. DSD must be the trigger of the criminal justice process because as social workers deal with the victims of crime, they gather crucial information that needs to be passed on to SAPS for them to start the court processes.”

Currently, eleven government departments and entities are connected to the IJS hub, including the National Prosecution Authority (NPA) and SAPS, allowing the electronic exchange of information. “Through technology, the IJS programme enables law enforcement, the social sector, and the Department of Home Affairs to track criminals through biometrics, identify trends of perpetrators, and prevent victims of crime from going through secondary victimisation and reliving the trauma they have experienced,” Mr Ngumla explained.

Earlier discussions at the Indaba focused on public complaints regarding inadequate service delivery from key players, and Mr Ngumla echoed these concerns, urging stakeholders to embrace technology and not be left behind. “The more we work in silos, the more criminals will win,” he said, stressing the need for integrated systems to ensure women’s safety. “In today’s world, information exchange is critical. The data we receive from a case informs the type of intervention needed. This makes us smarter and more responsive to these issues, and that is what the IJS was conceptualised to do.”

By streamlining the criminal justice process, the IJS helps government respond to issues speedily and ensures that criminals are behind bars. Mr Ngumla also introduced the Femicide Watch tool, developed in response to a recommendation by the United Nations Special Rapporteur on Violence Against Women. This tool allows the reporting and monitoring of femicide cases, enabling trend analysis and the development of responsive policies.

As the Indaba came to a close, Sibusiso Malope, Director of Victim Empowerment at DSD, reiterated the call for greater collaboration. “We cannot succeed without integrating and working together,” he said, highlighting the need for unified efforts to combat GBVF.