‘Minister of Twitter’ talks about ‘refreshing’ policing

POLICE Minister Fikile Mbalula gave a glimpse of his experience in his new role and shed more light on what he wants to be done in the police service.

He briefed the media on Thursday after the court appearance of Deputy Minister for Higher Education, Mduduzi Manana, for allegedly assaulting a woman at a nightclub in Johannesburg.

Mbalula previously served as a deputy minister to then minister, Nathi Mthethwa, before he became minister for sports and recreation.

Recalling his stint in sport, the “Minister of Twitter” said safety was not his preoccupation.

“Nobody came to talk about issues of safety. I spoke to Floyd Mayweather about other important issues,” he said.

“It was nice, I must say. Equally this one it is about serving. I will do it to the best of my ability,” Mbalula said.

“People report their things, the situation they are in and their difficulties. We attend to these issues,” he said.

Mbalula spoke of how cases were brought to his attention through Twitter and calls by private citizens for him to spring him into action.

“When a case is brought to my attention, I don’t turn a blind eye, I follow up on it. I see that it is attended to. If it is not, I ask why not?”

He claimed to have helped over 5 000 young women, on the run from partners, who contacted him via Twitter.

“It means there is something wrong in the administration of justice at police stations. You can’t have a person report abuse over five times and as police you don’t take their concerns seriously. Not all police stations will do what I call policing. They neglect their duties,” he said.

Mbalula said he was working to “refresh” the 10111 call centre in the fight against crime to make it easy for citizens to report crime without fear or favour.

“I realised there are no prank calls on Twitter when people report things,” he said.

Mbalula advised colleagues and all who might find themselves on wrong side of the law: “We can be friends. It might be painful but the law must take its course. There must be no favouritism.”