Western Cape: Greater SAPS resources needed after several weekend murders

Minister of Community Safety, Albert Fritz, has demanded greater policing resources for the Western Cape in light of a number of murders that took place over the weekend, 3 to 5 September 2021. 

Fritz said the Department of Community Safety will be proactive in assisting in bringing any perpetrators to book.

SEVERAL MURDERS IN WESTERN CAPE THIS PAST WEEKEND 

Over the weekend, four people were killed in Wellington, while police are investigating the disappearance of four people in Mfuleni. 

“It is alleged that the disappearance of the four is linked to a case of mob justice. While searching for the four, police discovered the bodies of two unidentified victims who are not part of the four. In a separate incident, the body of a 27-year old woman was also discovered in Paarl, while the local community also allegedly destroyed a suspect’s shack and his car,” said Fritz. 

“We refuse to normalise the criminality we see on our streets. We refuse to become desensitised to it. The crime on our streets is outrageous, and as the Provincial Government we are demanding greater policing resources in the Western Cape so that the SAPS can be more effective in fighting crime,” he added. 

NEEDING MORE SAPS RESOURCES AN ‘UNAVOIDABLE REALITY’ 

Fritz said his department will do all they can as the provincial government to tackle the murder spree, however, the unavoidable reality is that they need greater SAPS resources. 

“Practically, I am going to instruct my department to follow up on all these cases as far as we can in terms of our current powers. We have an advocate who works with gender-based violence cases in the Court Watching Brief Unit, and my hope is that he will assist in attaining justice for that woman. And our LEAP Officers are going to continue their work of bringing greater visible policing to our communities. But we need more SAPS resources in this province. That remains the unavoidable reality,” he said. 

Fritz explained that policing is a competency of the national government, with provinces such as the Western Cape limited to playing an oversight role. He also said National Police Minister Bheki Cele should take provinces’ policing needs into account when forming policy. 

“Constitutionally, the National Police Minister must set policing policy, but the Constitution also says that the Minister must take the policing needs and priorities of the provinces into account when forming policy. And so we don’t understand why the inputs of provinces are being ignored, as is presently the case. The Minister sits in Pretoria and we have to face the people. We can’t explain constitutional powers to grieving mothers when they look for answers from us about why criminals are running rampage in our streets. Things can’t go on like this,” he added. 

“I want to extend my sincere condolences to the families and friends of all victims. I want to say that, as your Minister of Community Safety, I am really troubled by your suffering. You deserve better,” he added.