“I hate criminals and, I also hate crime,” the KwaZulu-Natal MEC for Transport, Community Safety and Liaison, Willies Mchunu declared yesterday, much to the delight of top cops and community crime fighters.
Mchunu was speaking in Imbali Township (Pietermaritzburg) at the weekend during his first interaction with all South African Police Service (SAPS) station commissioners, Community Policing Forum (CPF) chairpersons and coordinators from 183 police stations in the province.
“I have been a victim of crime myself, and my own family, friends and relatives have also been victims, so being MEC for Community Safety and Liaison is just not another deployment. It hurts to be a victim of crime. After experiencing crime, and its aftermaths, I have come to a conclusion that not only do I hate crime, but, in fact I hate criminals,” the soft spoken MEC said.
He said the fight against crime and criminals requires police officers, politicians, and community activists with no blemish “to win against crime, its fighters must be clean and upright”. He said it was inconceivable that a police officer or a member of Community Policing Forum should “flirt” with criminals at night, and during the day shout anti-crime rhetoric. “Such individuals must be exposed, isolated, and thrown into jail without delay”.
On shoot to kill message
“Let us not be misconstrued. We have not advocated for a trigger happy police force. However, our message is very clear; police officers while in pursuance of their duties cannot ask criminals: hey you! What are you doing drawing a gun at me, it just cannot be, they must defend themselves”.
On Community Policing Forum and party politics
“Community Policing Forums cannot be a replication of a dominant political party in the area. If that happens, they will simple transmit their internal squabbles into the CPF, thereby paralyse the fight against crime. I wish for the day wherein a true leader will stand up and say; I will serve all people including those I disagree with”.
On a new fight against crime
“To win a war against crime, we must have a clear target, a list of known “alleged” criminals in our communities, report all crimes to the police, and in turn, the police must investigate thoroughly and diligently. Such a list shall be given to the police to investigate, and ensure successful arrests and prosecution. It is easy to develop such a list because criminals live in communities with us.
It is my earnest appeal that in all wards or communities we must develop a database of all known “alleged” criminals in our localities, and give such to the police. The provincial Department of Community Safety and Liaison, including its political head (current MEC) are here to monitor closely if the police investigate these “alleged” criminals, and where appropriate effect arrests.
The police shall report progress to all people who report crime, and to the victims of crime, this we expect and deserve. We need to know the progress of police investigations or lack thereof. As part of our duty, we will ensure a greater monitoring of police work in the province. We urge CPF’s and all communities to partner with us”.
CPF: resolution (Are you on our database?)
The often repeated call by the MEC for a database of alleged criminals will now be a reality. All CPF’s chairpersons agreed to develop such a list. Once drawn up, the list will be submitted to a local police station for action, and the SAPS provincial commissioner’s office for monitoring, and MEC’s office for oversight.
For more information, contact:
Bhekisisa Mncube
Cell: 079 699 5755
Issued by: Department of Transport, KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Government
11 October 2009
Source: Department of Transport, KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Government
(http://www.kzntransport.gov.za/)
