AfriForum demands Cele’s dismissal

BHEKI Cele, the minister of police, has repeatedly proved that he is incompetent. Under his leadership, the SAPS has weakened.

He has been involved in corruption scandals.

How can it then be expected that police officers at grass-roots level would keep their hands clean if the SAPS’s political chief did not?

AfriForum demands the minister’s dismissal after his incompetence was further confirmed.

This after he announced that more than 7 000 police officers had been arrested over the past five years for crimes that included murder, kidnapping, rape and cash-in-transit robberies.

But of the thousands arrested, less than 10% have been successfully convicted.

The SAPS has long been fighting internal wars due to political interference and the involvement of its own members in criminal activities. There’s clearly a serious problem. Either the National Prosecuting Authority is doing a dismal job of prosecuting SAPS members involved in crime or SAPS members are arresting other SAPS members without good reason.

Corruption in the police service is also a challenge, so I wouldn’t be surprised if the prosecution rate was so low because of interference in investigations, dockets disappearing or witnesses being intimidated.

To add fuel to the fire, the latest Global Organised Crime Index showed that out of 193 countries, South Africa scored the seventh highest in the world and the third highest in Africa when it comes to organised crime.

The fact that Cele remains in his position as minister of police is a clear indication that the ANC government prioritises its own cadres over the citizens of the country.

Communities will have to get involved with civilian safety structures to help stem the tide of criminality.

JACQUES BROODRYK AfriForum spokesperson for

Community Safety