Not even VIP protection can protect ministers from rampant crime so what about ordinary citizens?

7 November 2023

The robbery of Transport Minister Sindisiwe Chikunga on Tuesday morning, where she was held at gunpoint while travelling on the N3 near Heidelberg, highlights how even official Blue Lights do not protect government officials amidst South Africa’s spiralling crime rate. What the Minister experienced is the lived reality of countless South Africans reinforcing ActionSA’s belief that drastic action must be taken to turn the rise of lawlessness in South Africa around.

The incident highlights how the ruling party and Police Minister Bheki Cele have been unable to curb the rising crime rate in South Africa. ActionSA has already marched to the South African Police Headquarters in Pretoria in August where we handed over a Memorandum to Demands that the lack of police capacity across the country be addressed, but to date have received no response.

We believe that no country can prosper, grow the economy, and create jobs when there is a breakdown in the Rule of Law, and therefore proposes a comprehensive reform to ensure that our people are once again safe in their communities.

ActionSA further believes that critical vacancies in frontline policing should be filled, specialised policing units to tackle crime and drugs be restored and bail be abolished for serious crimes such as murder.

We additionally believe that the Scorpions should be reinstated at the NPA to prosecute serious and complicated crimes, and where people committed serious crimes, parole should no longer be granted.

As a Party that values the upholding of the rule of law, ActionSA will work with communities across the country to restore the rule of law and keep the government accountable to ensure that action is taken. For too long our people have been let down.

Issued by Herman Mashaba, ActionSA President, 7 November 2023