KZN crime: Millions spent with no results
16 May 2023
KwaZulu-Natal’s (KZN) Community Safety and Liaison Department, under MEC Sipho Hlomuka, is still unable to contain the crime wave sweeping our province despite a budget of R250 million.
The DA is extremely concerned about the current situation, as there is scarcely a day that goes by without hearing of yet another serious priority crime taking place.
The latest horror incident saw eight people burnt to death in a house in Taylors Halt, Pietermaritzburg, on Sunday night. According to SAPS, a manhunt has been launched for 15 men, with no arrests made as yet.
There is no relief for KZN’s citizens, who are living in fear.
Despite the dismal statistics, KZN’s ANC-run Community Safety and Liaison Department continues to spend millions of taxpayers’ money with no results. This is criminal in itself.
The question is: Where is the money going? It is time that the MEC accounted to the people and KZN’s Community Safety Portfolio Committee. This must include;
- A detailed plan around the R160 million allocated to fighting crime earlier this year
- A breakdown of the R65 million allocated to Safety Promotion. This includes the Volunteer Social Crime Prevention Project (VSCPP) – a key performance indicator for community-focused interventions and community training programmes
- An update on the R17million for monitoring to ensure the effectiveness of community safety structures and;
- Details around the R3 million allocated to Community Police Relations
The war against crime is real in KZN. SAPS must ensure that money allocated to crime-fighting is spent where it matters. It must also tap into all available resources, including crime intelligence so that crime can be stopped before it is committed. Community policing forums and the social volunteer programme must also step up and take on the fight.
The DA has long maintained that MEC Hlomuka is in his position as a result of cadre deployment rather than for his ability to turn around this critical department.
What we are witnessing is clear evidence of politics being placed before the people, with the ANC’s so-called Taliban faction calling the shots despite the MEC’s failure to lead.
Last week, the DA called on the Chairperson of KZN’s Community Safety and Liaison Portfolio Committee to request a full report from law enforcement. We await his response.
With KZN’s crime statistics provisionally scheduled for release on Friday, the DA does not anticipate any improvement. We remain committed to fighting for the right of our province’s people to live in safety.
Issued by Sharon Hoosen, DA KZN Spokesperson on Community Safety and Liaison, 16 May 2023
