Minister of Police Bheki Cele stated yesterday South Africans didn’t want to listen to they’re secure, they should really feel secure.
Cele and nationwide police commissioner General Fannie Masemola had been giving an replace on their plans to fight crime following a bloody and lethal July.
Victimologist from the division of criminology and legal justice on the University of Limpopo Prof Jaco Barkhuizen stated the nation was dropping the battle towards crime.
“Crime stats are increasing and there is no comprehensive crime prevention strategy. Our current strategy needs to be updated and take into account what’s happening on the ground,” he stated.
South Africa wanted a functioning crime intelligence unit, functioning forensic laboratories and totally functioning detectives, together with extra police.
“We have misplaced 20 000 members, and the minister admitted it.
“If we take a look at what occurred at Krugersdorp and the horrific gang rape: hastily police transfer in and arrest and establish and gather DNA and proof as a result of there may be media consideration.
“The police should do this every day.”
He stated there ought to be seen policing. “Crime ought to be a nationwide precedence. Preventing crime and aiding victims ought to be one of many prime priorities of the federal government.
“Sixty-nine folks get murdered each day; numerous girls are raped.
“This is women’s month. We are going to have platitudes from the president and ministers but still, ladies will be gang raped and murdered during this month because we don’t have a proper police strategy,” Barkhuizen stated.
In his State of the Nation Address in February, President Cyril Ramaphosa mirrored on the July 2021 riots and the report of the high-level panel he appointed to research why it occurred.
“The report concludes that government’s initial handling of the July 2021 events was inept, police operational planning was poor, there was poor coordination between the state security and intelligence services and police are not always embedded in the communities they serve,” Ramaphosa stated.
“We will start instantly by filling important vacancies and addressing positions affected by suspensions within the State Security Agency and Crime Intelligence.
“We will soon be announcing leadership changes in a number of security agencies to strengthen our security structures.”
Masemola changed General Khehla John Sitole in March. However, the Crime Intelligence Unit continues to be with out a everlasting head.
Cele stated the police weren’t out gunned however “under-resourced”.
“In 2010 we had 195 000 members. Today we have 176 000. We are 20 000 members down. This year, 10 000 recruits will graduate and they promised us 10 000 more next year. That brings us to the figure of 2010,” he stated.
Cele stated the ratio in 2010 was one police officer to 250 civilians. “Today the ratio is one officer per 450 civilians,” he stated.
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Rural criminologist from the division of criminology and legal justice on the University of Limpopo Dr Witness Maluleke stated because the nation has witnessed, criminals have the higher hand.
“It shows there is not a strategy that will respond effectively on crime issues in South Africa,” he stated.
Cele added police models needed to be enhanced and strengthened. “In 2010 we had been purported to have 12 000 public order policing (POP) members and we solely have 5 000 in the present day.
“Out of the 10 000 members from the police college, 4 000 members will go straight to POP,” he stated.
Masemola stated police evaluation of crime threats and crime patterns guided intensified deployments over recognized problematic time zones and crime hotspots.
“For occasion, there is a sign that, basically, most severe and violent crimes are dedicated between Fridays and Mondays.
“All provinces are now conducting simultaneous blitz operations with high visibility and combat operations throughout the weekend,” he stated.
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The operations entailed cordons and searches, intelligence-driven, multidisciplinary and disruptive operations.
“In July alone, a total of 1 173 illegal firearms and 7 738 rounds of live ammunition were confiscated countrywide; 1 035 of the confiscated firearms were found in Gauteng. Some of the firearms, ammunition and dangerous weapons were seized during roadblocks,” he stated.
Masemola stated 22 320 suspects had been arrested throughout the nation in July for crimes dedicated.
“[A total of] 3 193 of these suspects were arrested for assault with intent to commit grievous bodily harm, 576 [were] for murder, 360 attempted murders, 432 for rape and 177 for sexual offences,” he stated.
Masemola stated the shootings final month weren’t organised crime-related. He stated police had been investigating the motives behind the assaults and so they steered they had been extortion and drug associated.
– marizkac@citizen.co.za
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