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The DA is calling for the speedy arrest of the suspects involved in the murder of Sol Plaatje municipal foreman and South African Municipal Workers’ Union (SAMWU) shop steward, Japtha Louw on Friday evening outside of his home in Jacksonville, Roodepan in Kimberley.

This comes amidst the recent increase in execution-style crime in the city where, just last month, another Kimberley man was shot in front of his family a year after his friend was also reportedly assassinated. In both cases, no arrests have yet been made.

Residents are living in fear following the number of seemingly targeted shootings taking place in Kimberley.

Even more concerning in respect of Louw’s murder, are allegations in the media that he had reported information relating to cable theft involvement by fellow municipal officials. The DA is appealing to SAPS not to take this lightly.

Cable theft in and around Kimberley has been extensive and it has been clear for a long time already that big syndicates are involved. It is time that the South African Police Service (SAPS) declares cable theft a priority crime and establishes a specialised unit to combat this crime, modelled on what Cape Town is doing in response to cable theft.

SAPS in Kimberley must be urgently strengthened and better-capacitated to effectively deal with organized crime so that the increasingly deadly and destructive crime syndicates can be brought to book.

I have written to Provincial Police Commissioner, Maj Gen Koliswa Otola, to ascertain what measures she is putting in place to deal with organised crime as well as at what point the ballistic tests are, as this is also dependent on the SAPS Forensic Science Laboratory, which remains heavily backlogged. I will further submit parliamentary questions to determine the overall backlog in respect of ballistics testing, as it relates to the Northern Cape. The outcome of ballistics tests are essential to ensuring that the murderers are put behind bars.

The DA will continue to put pressure on SAPS to solve this case and to ensure the safety and security of all residents of the Northern Cape.

Issued by Ofentse Mokae, MPL - DA Northern Cape Spokesperson of Transport, Safety & Liaison