Issued by: Gauteng Provincial Government
03 April 1997
MEC STATEMENT ON NATIONAL PARTY ACCUSATIONS RELATING TO THE INVESTIGATIONS ON BRIXTON HIJACK PARADE HANDLING.
The MEC for Public Safety and Security, Gauteng, Ms. Jessie Duarte, would like to put the record straight with regard to the decision to request the Independent Complaints directorate (ICD) (and not the judicial inquiry as the NP falsely claims), to conduct investigations about the handling of cases relating to the hijack parade held in Brixton last year.
The question with regard to this matter was posed at the Gauteng Legislature by MPL Swanepoel and the MEC responded according to information provided to her by the police as is usually the case with regard to questions of an operational nature.
Subsequently, with new information provided by the public, particularly Mr. Andre Niemandt, a great need arose to investigate the information given to the MEC by the police as well as the whole operation.
To ensure an objective analysis that goes into the root of the matter, it became imperative to call on the ICD, which is a constitutional structure established on the 1st April 1997.
"It is well within my right and responsibility as the MEC to ensure that matters are thoroughly and objectively investigated with the intent of satisfying the public concerns." The MEC further said.
The decision to request the ICD to investigate the cases should be viewed as a concern by the Ministry to deal with public complaints against the police and reflects our total commitment to ensure that the police conduct their work in a professional manner as expected by the Constitution.
Issued by: Gauteng Ministry for Public Safety and Security Enquiries: Mbulelo Musi Tel: 333-3344 Cell: 082-571-3591