“These figures come as no surprise, and I also can't see it getting better anytime soon.
How can anyone expect police officers at the grassroots level to provide an effective crime prevention service when senior appointments in the SAPS have no operational experience?” says Ronnie Schilling, TLU SA East and Natal, regional manager.
This response comes after the announcement earlier this morning of the latest crime statistics. From October 2022 to December 2022, there were 86 murders reported in rural areas with 92 attempted murders.
Schilling goes on to say that intelligence-driven operations are something we only see in “cowboys and crooks” programmes in South Africa. “The sentences awarded for crimes, if any, have long ceased to be a deterrent for the criminal.”
Bertus van der Westhuizen, TLU SA Free State regional chairman, believes that Bheki Cele, Minister of Police, should take responsibility for the crime figures. “We as the public pay him a salary with tax money to perform this very important and responsible task. He must protect us and create a safe and orderly environment in which we can work and live. He's not doing it. He's failing in the job we pay him to do. He must vacate his position and make way for someone who can do the job.”
Herman de Wet, TLU SA Natal regional chairman, suggests the solution to the problem: “Remove the rotten elements from the SAPS so that plans can be put into action.”
Bennie van Zyl, CEO of TLU SA, regrets that crime in South Africa has been managed as statistics for some time now. “If there were actual government action to look after the safety of citizens, statistics could be useful. However, it only shows how incompetent the government is in looking after the safety of citizens. As long as the SAPS continues to function as it currently does, there will be no trust in the state to effectively manage safety.”
Misdaadstatistiek geen verrassing vir TLU SA
“Hierdie syfers kom as geen verrassing nie en ek kan ook nie sien dat dit vinnig beter sal gaan nie. Hoe kan enigiemand verwag dat polisiebeamptes op voetsoolvlak ʼn doeltreffende misdaadvoorkomingsdiens moet lewer wanneer senior aanstellings in die SAPD geen operasionele ondervinding het nie?” sê Ronnie Schilling, TLU SA streeksbestuurder Oos en Natal.
Hierdie reaksie kom na afloop van die bekendmaking vroeër vanoggend van die nuutste misdaadstatistiek. Vanaf Oktober 2022 tot Desember 2022 is daar 86 moorde in landelike gebiede aangemeld met 92 pogings tot moord.
Schilling gaan voort deur te sê dat intelligensiegedrewe bedrywighede iets is wat ons in Suid-Afrika slegs in “cowboys en crooks”-programme sien. “Die vonnisse wat vir misdade toegeken word, indien enige, is ook lankal nie meer ʼn afskrikmiddel vir die misdadiger nie.”
Bertus van der Westhuizen, TLU SA streeksvoorsitter Vrystaat, is van mening dat Bheki Cele as minister van polisie verantwoordelikheid vir die misdaadsyfers moet aanvaar. “Ons as publiek betaal hom met belastinggeld ʼn salaris om hierdie baie belangrike en verantwoordelike taak te verrig. Hy moet ons beskerm en ʼn veilige en ordelike omgewing skep waarbinne ons kan werk en leef. Hy doen dit nie. Hy faal in die taak waarvoor ons hom betaal. Hy moet sy pos ontruim en plek maak vir iemand wat die werk kan doen.”
Herman de Wet, TLU SA streeksvoorsitter Natal, stel die oplossing vir die probleem voor: “Haal die vrot elemente uit die SAPD sodat planne in aksie gestel kan word.”
Bennie van Zyl, hoofbestuurder van TLU SA betreur die feit dat misdaad in Suid-Afrika geruime tyd hoogstens statistiek bestuur. “Indien daar daadwerklike optrede van die regering sou wees om na inwoners se veiligheid te kyk, sou statistiek nuttig kon wees. Dit wys egter slegs hoe onbevoeg die regering is om na inwoners se veiligheid te kyk. Solank die SAPD aanhou funksioneer soos wat hulle tans doen, sal daar nie vertroue in die staat wees om veiligheid doeltreffend te bestuur nie.”
