Question No. 16
Ms ND Ntwanambi (African National Congress, Western Cape) to ask the Deputy President:
(1) Whether the government has established any awareness programmes to encourage communities to name and shame persons who participate in criminal activities with the view of taking the fight against crime to community level and encouraging communities to reclaim positive values; if not, what is the position in this regard; if so, (a) what is the level of involvement of the communities and (b) to what extent are communities encouraged to be part of the fight against crime beyond the community policing forums (CPF);
(2) Whether any measures are in place to ensure that this initiative does not encourage vigilantism; if not, why not; if so, what measures?
Reply:
Honourable Chief Whip, there is no awareness programme that I am aware of to specifically name and shame persons who participate in criminal activities.
Our programmes, run by the South African Police Service (SAPS) at national and provincial level and through police stations, include as a consistent message in their engagement with communities, that crime must be reported either at the police stations or through the Crime stop telephone number.
In addition, SAPS have entered into a partnership with Primedia for the establishment of the crime line website and SMS-line that also allows members of the public to report criminal activity through these mediums.
Encouraging communities to "break the silence" especially about gender based violence and crimes against children, also forms part of the messaging used in crime awareness campaigns. Communities are also called upon to work with the Police to combat crime.
Initiatives are undertaken with the community police forums but communication tools such as community radio, newspaper articles, door to door campaigns and direct engagement with stakeholder groups, for example school visits, are also used.
The awareness programmes includes specific messages to encourage communities to report crime to the SAPS and not to take the law into their own hands by becoming involved in vigilantism.
Our police act against vigilantism and ensure that such actions are publicised to serve as a deterrent to individuals in communities who want to take the law into their own hands.
The Ministry of Police through the civilian Secretariat for Police has also established a partnership unit which explores partnerships with communities and civil society.
I thank you.
