Feasibility study into resurrecting disbanded units
THE SAPS is conducting a feasibility study with an intention to possibly reintroduce some of the disbanded specialised police units.
This takes place against the backdrop of the recent relaunching of the anti-gang task team in the Western Cape by President Cyril Ramaphosa.
Police Minister Bheki Cele said the anti-gang task team would also be launched in the Eastern Cape and Gauteng, where there was a problem of gangsterism.
“They will be rolled out in all provinces where it is necessary,” Cele said.
He also said the finalisation of feasibility studies would determine the re-establishment of the murder and robbery units as well as taxi violence units to assist with proactive and reactive response to the threats in conjunction with communities.
He also said there were no formalised units to deal with illegal mining, and it was something they were working towards.
The DA said it had noted there was pre-election celebration by the ANC when the specialised units were re-established.
Dianne Kohler Barnard said the governing party should hang its head in shame since former police commissioner Jackie Selebi closed down the narcotics unit after it went after his friend Glenn Agliotti. She also said the ANC should apologise for its “disastrous and self-serving” decision. Cele said he would not apologise. “My job is to protect the people of South Africa as instructed by the constitution,” he said.
On the accusation that they took about seven years to respond to the DA’s recommendations on the antigang task team, Cele said: “I agree, it could have been late, but it had to be responded to.”
He said there had been tremendous achievements since the unit was established in the Western Cape.
Cele said the training of the officers attached to the unit had been improved. “They are better trained to be able to face the situation. The operational approach is also meant to deal with gangsterism.”
According to Cele, an integrated approach was critical for successful prevention, combating and investigation of gang activities.