Zille commission stated the obvious
The DA's politics of deception was again laid bare today in the Western Cape where premier Helen Zille's commission into Khayelitsha policing did not bring anything earthshattering or new to the table.
The ANC welcomes the findings that the breakdown in relation or trust between the community and police is not irretrievable or irreparable. It further conceded there are many committed and diligent members of SAPS posted in Khayelitsha; they perform efficiently and strive to provide a professional policing service; as well as that they provide many of the residents with a professional, respectful and efficient service.
This is despite the profound challenges the commission pointed out in this very poor area with bad infrastructure and very high crime levels that makes Khayelitsha a particularly difficult area for SAPS to operate - even close to a "crisis point" with staff shortages and too much work for detectives. Only three police stations in the province with over 150 such facilities were chosen by Zille for the investigation with special attention to vigilante and youth gang activities.
The commission made recommendation that include amongst others better use of CCTV cameras, stronger action against domestic violence, better control over liquor outlets and other measures in order for SAPS to play its full role. Complainants should all be treated better and visible patrols conducted in all neighbourhoods to foster more trust between SAPS and communities. Action should also be taken against errant cops. It further recommends better cooperation between SAPS, City Police and the province.
ANC Western Cape says: "It is clear that the Zille commission merely produced that which was already known and could have been gathered without following this route and spending many millions of Rand! It was known that Khayelitsha suffers due to high crime and social ills which are mostly fuelled by poverty as a result of apartheid discrimination and segregation. The commission is mostly a waste of good money and with a limited scope - not also looking at the rogue City Police who draws so many complaints at other levels.
"The ANC calls on the province to stop its fixation to control SAPS and give its cooperation to deal with matters and concerns in a real way. The ANC also calls on the DA to seize politicising policing and for Zille to accept her government's responsibilities in this report - or face ridicule as most of her claims showed that she made a mountain out of a molehill."
Statement issued by Pat Lekker, ANC Western Cape, August 25 2014
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