‘Poor still bear brunt of crime’

THE ANC has criticised the Community Safety budget saying it ignored the very voters who brought the DA into power.

“It does not speak to increasing safety for all the people in the province…The budget lacks commitment to redress the ugly face of abject poverty that is breaking down the moral and strong family values,” ANC MPL Pat Lekker said.

“Murder has increased by 12 percent and gangsterism accounts for at least 18 percent of murders. Children and youths die at the hands of drugs dealers and the territorial wars which are destroying the safety and security of our people.”

The department claimed it had initiatives to restore safety on the Cape Flats, but Lekker said these were bearing little fruit.

The areas with the greatest number of violent crimes were those of previously disadvantage communities, the poor and the economically depressed.

“Involvement of youth in criminal activities is largely a consequence of socio-economic realities,” she added.

EFF MPL Nazier Paulsen said crime would not be beaten without addressing the socio-economic issues that forced people to resort to crime.

The ACDP supported the budget, with Ferlon Christians asking why the ANC and EFF did not laccept policing was a national function.

“The department of community safety has a limited function and they are doing sterling work,” he added.

Community Safety MEC Dan Plato said his 2015/2016 budget was focused on increasing safety for all the Western Cape’s communities.

The budget allocationwas R234.5million.

Addressing oppositions concerns Plato said: “I would love to see a day when we fighting crime and put our politics aside.” The department would word towards: Promoting professional policing. Making public spaces and buildings safer. Building community resilience. Dealing with safety concerns through viable safety partnerships and innovative safety programmes and interventions.