Minister Cele, let’s focus on ensuring our people are safe
LETTER to National Minister of Police Bheki Cele.
Minister Cele, over a long period of time gangsterism has been a huge problem on the Cape Flats. I am very sure you are aware of this.
Our people, the people who have elected both you and I into public office, are living in constant fear with consistent shooting and activity related to gangsterism taking place and frankly our people are sick and tired of it.
Over the past few years we have seen an escalation of this shooting in our areas and more recently in Bonteheuwel.
We have seen a lot of machismo and bravado from various police ministers, especially your predecessor.
This is never matched with delivery, though.
Instead we see gimmicks like big media launches with extra policing staff temporarily working on some operations, but this never lasts.
Instead our police stations across the city and province are deprived of the policing resources you control.
The vast majority of SAPS police stations are badly under-resourced with only around 70-80% of their policing staff posts filled.
These police stations with the least staff and lowest officer-to-public ratio have the worst crime stats every year.
The police stations with the lowest crime stats have the most police per resident. What saddens me and is of great concern is that Bonteheuwel, with a population of close to 65 000 people, does not have its own police station.
We have a satellite station that really only signs affidavits and is no service to the community.
Due to the SAPS’s lack of police officers and a lack of equipment, including weapons and vehicles among other things, our people are suffering.
Our police service in Bonteheuwel has become a reactive service rather than a proactive service.
Gang violence is out of control and contributes to many of the murders in these most crime-riddled police stations.
It boggles my mind therefore that in the midst of this terrifying gangsterism the national minister would close down a once successful unit in the SAPS, the specialised Gang Unit.
Currently the only intelligence we are receiving on gang activity is from residents who out of fear are sharing this information even though they are aware that the only action that will take place is that the information will be shared with criminals and that they now need to live in even greater fear of speaking up.
This, Minister Cele, is not correct and it is not what we have fought for when we fought the freedom fight.
Minister Cele, I am not asking you to visit Bonteheuwel neither am I asking you for lip service on the issue.
What my community is asking of you through me is that you will protect us and that you will ensure our safety – that you will do your job and give us the policing resources you owe us.
We are asking you to make sure that our children can once again play in the street and parks.
That people can freely walk to school and work and back home. That our people will at the very least feel safe.
This, Minister Cele, is not much to ask when it is enshrined in our constitution – it is our right.
Minister Cele, this is not just a letter of complaint, but rather an opportunity for you to use what you have at your disposal to keep our people safe.
We request from you that you: (1) return the specialised gang units, (2) give the police proper resources and (3) urgently put more police officers on the street.
These are but three requests to make the necessary changes and start the process of bringing peace and normality.
We need a proactive police service rather than a reactive force.
The police are no good to us once the shooting has happened and people are killed. We need you to investigate gangs and proactively ensure that problems don’t exist or happen by convicting those that are guilty of murder, rape, armed robbery, assault and attempted murder.
Minister, we are both public servants. My community is begging for help. Let us forego our political ideology and rather focus on ensuring our people are safe and that we create better and safer communities for our people, which will evidently result in economic growth, job opportunities and a place we can all call home.
Yours in the service of our people. Angus McKenzie Ward councillor Bonteheuwel