Following threats and intimidation to foreign nationals in some townships in the Western Cape, the Ministers of Defence and Military Veterans, Lindiwe Sisulu and Police, Nathi Mthethwa this morning arrived in Cape Town to get first hand reports from senior law enforcement officers.
Senior officers reported that criminal elements are threatening innocent foreign nationals and taking their goods and other asserts. The police reported that they have made arrests in a number of incidents. The officers reported that a number of foreign nationals have been intimidated and threatened by criminals. The Ministers were also briefed on measures to be put in place to counter the intimidation and violence.
Ministers instructed law enforcement agencies to deal harshly with anyone who threatens any citizen in the country. They added that foreign nationals who are intimidated and threatened must report the perpetrators to the police and the police will take necessary steps.
The Minister of Defence and Military Veterans said the South African Defence Force (SANDF) will make all resources available to support the South African Police Service (SAPS) to stop opportunistic criminals who are threatening citizens.
“Opportunistic criminals must know that we will deal with them harshly, there is no way we will allow them to spread fear and crime, we are working very hard to find them and prosecute them” she said.
The Minister added that leaders of communities and all political parties must spread messages of no tolerance towards criminals and those who threaten foreign nationals or intimidate them.
“From community level to national leaders, we must unite against opportunistic elements who take genuine concerns of our people to spread messages of hate and commit criminal activities, those people have no place in our society, law enforcement officers must deal with them harshly” she said.
The Ministers also instructed that the SANDF and the SAPS must today jointly deploy to ensure that all citizens are safe and no one is threatened.
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