SAPS must be placed at forefront of fight against crime

by Andrew Louw – DA Northern Cape Provincial Leader

Date: 24 November 2017
Release: Immediate
Type: Press Statement

The DA is calling on SAPS to keep local communities informed of real time dangers, especially those facing our children.

Only this week, a group of suspicious looking people, who were parked outside a crèche near a junior school in the suburb of Hadison Park, Kimberely, were caught taking photographs of small children and their parents.

Thanks to the speedy efforts of a neighborhood watch group, the vehicle was chased away and the model and registration number was captured and placed on community whatsapp groups as a warning to parents to be alert and vigilant.

The police, however, have remained silent.

As we enter the 16 Days of Activism Campaign, we need a bold and unapologetic approach from SAPS to break the hold of criminals, who have undermined the safety and freedom of our people.

We appreciate the efforts of SAPS to work hand in hand with community groups. However, we need SAPS to be at the forefront of the fight against crime, especially child pornography, human trafficking and sexual offences.

This is increasingly important, as criminals operating in the comfort of our relaxed province, are becoming too brazen. It’s too easy for them to do business in the open, with SAPS saying there is nothing they can do without the evidence of a crime having taken place. This, while everyone knows that there are elements who are plotting crimes so horrific that they will leave families with a lifetime of sorrow.

The DA appeals to SAPS to be more proactive in terms of liaising with local media outlets.

Knowledge is power and awareness can prevent devastating crimes from occurring.

The media should be informed of crimes that were averted, not only crimes that have occurred. In this regard, pictures of suspicious people, vehicles and registration numbers should be distributed for publication.

We also request SAPS to generate formal warnings that can be disseminated to neighborhood watches, school groups and other community based groups.

The DA will write to Provincial Police Commissioner, Risimati Shivuri, formally appealing to him to put SAPS back in the driving seat.

Criminals should start to fear exposure, they should start to fear SAPS. Only then, will SAPS be able to take back their hold on crime and be in a position to protect us and our children.