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DA concerned with the high spiraling crime incidents in the Northern Cape

The DA is concerned with the rising crime incidents in Kimberley and
surrounding areas as seen in recent weeks. This is despite the
Northern Cape being hailed as “the safest province in the country”.

Community members are terrified and apprehensive at the lack of police
action and absence of arrests as is the case in Windsorton and many
others.  Everyday headlines rock the papers about violent crimes
taking place in various communities.

Crime affects us all irrespective of our political affiliations,
colour of our skin and our social class therefore a concerted effort
is needed to address this social ill that is ravaging our communities.
The police should be capacitated and resourced to deal with crime more
adequately and effectively. We cannot sit and watch as our communities
are terrorized daily by heartless criminals, all of us need to join
hands with law enforcement agencies to beat crime head-on.

In my capacity as a Member of the Provincial Legislature (MPL) and
member of the portfolio committee on safety it is my responsibility to
ensure that the Safety department is held to account to adequately
respond to this situation and lead us in the fight against crime.

The department is specifically required to lead the fight against
crime in this province and it cannot be business as usual.  Section
206(3) of the constitution determines that the department (a) monitor
police conduct, (b) oversee the effectiveness and efficiency of the
police service including receiving reports on the police service, (c)
promote good relations between the police and community, (d) assess
the effectiveness of visible policing and (e) liaise with the national
police ministry with respect to crime and policing in the province.

I have requested a special meeting with the MEC for Transport, Safety
and Liaison Martha Bartlett to raise this issue collectively with all
other relevant stakeholders and address it as a matter of urgency. I
have also written to the Chairperson of the portfolio committee on
safety Hon Gladys Oliphant to request her to summon the department to
brief us on their action plans to deal with this matter.

Issued by DA