By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
The South African Police Service (Saps) has apologised for the release of the personal information of eight women who were raped in Krugersdaorp last year.
The public apology comes after the Information Regulator of South Africa found that the South African Police Service (SAPS) violated the Protection of the Personal Information Act (POPIA) by distributing the victims personal information.
In a report released last month, the Regulator found that SAPS distributed the personal information of women who were raped during the horror incident, via WhatsApp without getting their consent.
The Regulator monitors and enforces compliance of POPIA.
The case relates to an incident in July 2022 when a group of women were attacked and gang raped while shooting a music video in the West Rand.
The Regulator found that the police leaked private information including names, addresses, and ID numbers of the women.
National police spokesperson Athlenda Mathe, says the internal police investigation found that indeed the personal information of victims was released inappropriately.
However, she says there was no ill intent with the release of the information.
“This however still does not justify the sharing of such information.
“The information which was shared on various internal WhatsApp platforms of the SAPS sought to only mobilise all the necessary role players and resources in a bid to apprehend those responsible for this heinous crime,” says Mathe.
She adds that WhatsApp messages were used to communicate due to the urgency to trace the suspects.
“Unfortunately, personal information of the above-mentioned victims was disclosed in the WhatsApp messages on SAPS WhatsApp groups, which found its way to social media.
The SAPS regrets the disclosure of such personal information and apologises to the victims of the dreadful crimes for the information breach and the hardship caused as a result,” she says.