Cele’s press conference on AKA is an insult to other families – DA

National Policice Minister Bheki Cele’s press conference on AKA murder is an insult to thousands of families whose murders go unsolved, says the Democratic Alliance (DA).

The party says while it acknowledges the recent arrests made in connection with the murders of Kiernan ‘AKA’ Forbes and Tebello ‘Tibs’ Motsoane in February of last year, Cele took the opportunity to score cheap political points by holding a press conference to show South Africa that SAPS is doing its job it is supposed to be doing.

‘CASE TOOK OVER A YEAR TO CONCLUDE – AN EMBARRASSMENT’

“It is an embarrassment that the Minister celebrates the arrests of persons that have taken over a year to conclude, and we trust that the chain of custody of the docket will successfully make its way to the NPA and obtain subsequent convictions against all those involved. Whilst the arrests are welcomed, these professional hitmen have been out on the streets for over a year, with how many other hits having potentially taken place,” says the DA.

It said that while Cele was basking in the opportunity to parade in front of the cameras for a case over a year old, he neglected to tell the public that of the 27 494 murders that occurred last year and the 25 181 murders the year before.

JUSTICE SHOULD SERVE ALL VICTIMS REGARDLESS OF SOCIAL STATURE – DA

“It is incumbent upon us as a society to ensure that our justice system is equitable and responsive to the needs of all victims, regardless of their status or public prominence,” the DA said.

“The loss of life due to violence is always a profound tragedy, and every victim deserves equal treatment under the law however, it should never be that mediocrity is celebrated or accepted,” it said in a statement posted on the party’s website.

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