Sexual Offences and Community Affairs (SOCA) Unit

The SOCA Unit was established in October 1999 with the main objective of eradicating all forms of gender-based violence against women and children. Since its establishment the Unit has made an extremely valuable contribution in this regard.

 

Mandate

To establish an efficient and effective Unit which strives to reduce the victimization of women and children by:

• Enhancing the capacity to prosecute sexual offences and domestic violence cases;
• Reducing secondary victimization of complainants and raising public awareness of the scourge of sexual offences and domestic violence;
• Ensure the proper management of young offenders.

 

Vision

Justice and security for women and children by protecting their dignity and freedom from violence and abuse.

 

Mission

A specialist Unit within the National Prosecuting Authority, which contributes to the combating of sexual offences against women and children by advocating and implementing measures, which prevent and react to gender based violence and which minimize secondary victimization.

 

Slogan

‘Putting the rights of women and children first.’

The SOCA Unit comprises of four sections, namely

• The Sexual Offences Section;
• The Domestic Violence Section;
• The Maintenance Section; and
• The Child Justice Section.

 

Sexual Offences Section

The objectives of the Sexual Offences Section are briefly:

• To improve the conviction rate of sexual offences cases;
• To reduce secondary victimization within the criminal justice system by establishing multi-disciplinary care centers and adopting a victim-centred approach;
• Skills development of all role players in the multi-disciplinary prosecution of sexual offences;
• Reducing the cycle period for the finalisation of cases.

 

National Prosecuting Authority

Section 179 of the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa, 1996 (Act No. 108 of 1996), created a single National Prosecution Authority (NPA).

 

The Office of the National Director of Public Prosecutions was established on 1 August 1998, in terms of section 179 (1) of the Constitution. The NPA comprises the National Director, who is the head of the Office and manages the Office; Directors of Public Prosecutions; Investigating Directors and Special Directors; other members of the prosecuting authority appointed at or assigned to the Office; and members of the administrative staff at the Office.

 

Legislation governing the prosecuting authority is the National Prosecuting Authority Act, 1998 (Act No. 32 of 1998). The Constitution, read with the said Act, provides the prosecuting authority with the power to institute criminal proceedings on behalf of the State and to carry out any necessary functions incidental to instituting criminal proceedings.

 

Background

• The Bill of Rights and Section 179 of the 1996 Constitution of the Republic of South Africa create a single prosecuting authority.
• The National Prosecuting Authority Act 32 of 1998 brings the NPA into existence.
• In August 1998, the first National Director of Public Prosecution was appointed.
• Seven Core Business Units:

National Prosecutions Service (NPS)

Asset Forfeiture Unit (AFU)

Sexual Offences and Community Affairs (SOCA)

Specialised Commercial Crime Unit (SCCU)

Witness Protection Unit (WPU)

Priority Crimes Litigation Unit (PCLU)

• All the Business Units are supported by Corporate Services.