Description

You may lodge a complaint with the Independent Police Investigative Directorate (IPID) if you feel that any member(s) of the South African Police Service (SAPS) failed to comply with the provisions of Domestic Violence Act of 1998. Any interested persons, victims of domestic violence and non-governmental organisations may lodge the complaint. Some of the failures may include failure to:

• Effect arrest against the respondent.
• Assist the complainant to open case, finding a suitable shelter, obtaining medical treatment, accompany complainant to collect personal property and seize any dangerous weapon from the abuser.
• Advise the complainant of options such as failure to advise the complainant to lay criminal charges or to apply for a protection order, or both.
• Serve the respondent with a subpoena to appear in court.

Domestic violence is committed when a person you are involved with in a domestic relationship does the following:

• Abuses you physically or sexually, e.g. commits an assault or rape.
• Abuses you verbally, emotionally or psychologically, e.g. subjects you to verbal insults, treats or repeated excessive jealousy.
• Harasses you, e.g. repeatedly making annoying phone calls to you, sending letters or objects to you, or watching your movements.
• Enters your premises without permission.
• Abuses you economically or financially, e.g. when a husband or a partner insists on making all the decisions about money or refuses to pay for food, school fees, etc.
• Intimidates you, e.g. threatening to kill you if you want to go to the police.
• Damages your property, e.g. burns your clothes, breaks the furniture or slashes your car tyres.
• Breaks an existing valid Protection Order.
• Any other abusive behaviour that threatens your safety, health or well-being.

Steps to follow

• A complaint may be lodged in person, by telephone, per letter or e-mail at any IPID office.
• Provide the Independent Complaints Directorate (IPID) with the following information:
  • the statement of what happened
  • name and contact details of the victim and/or complainant
  • name and rank of the suspect police officer(s)
  • name of the police station
  • police case number, if any
  • date, time and nature of non-compliance with the DVA
  • particulars of witnesses, if any.

Legal framework

(Documents are provided in PDF format. To open PDF documents, you need to have Adobe Acrobat Reader 4 or higher installed on your computer.)

Domestic Violence Act, 1998 (Act 116 of 1998)

Service standard

• Acknowledgement of complainant within five minutes.
• Waiting period to be interviewed by Case Analyst may take 30 minutes.
• Capturing the complaint on the Case Control System and assigning / transferring your case to a Case Worker within 48 hours.
• Written acknowledgement letter of receipt of complaint may take 30 days.
• Progress Report may take 30 days.

Cost

The service is free.

Forms to complete

Contact details