Nkhensani Chauke
The Deputy Defence Minister Bantu Holomisa has described the escalating crime rate in the Eastern Cape as deplorable and called for a comprehensive policing approach as a more effective solution.
Holomisa also urged Police Minister Senzo Mchunu during the cabinet Lekgotla meeting recently, to intervene in the EC and in Mthatha and Gqeberha, in particular.
Mchunu subsequently visited the province, accompanied by the Premier Oscar Mabuyane and vowed to beef up security in areas such as the OR Tambo District.
He said the police can request assistance from the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) through the presidency to help combat crime, but that in light of the challenges surrounding military deployment, the crisis required more action and planning from law enforcement agencies as a whole.
While noting that the practice of exhortation by demanding protection fee was rife, Holomisa said involving soldiers would not be easy.
“Usually soldiers cannot go on their own. You would have to follow the channels, such as going to the presidency to see if they want to deploy soldiers. There’s nothing we can do on our own,” he said.
Holomisa bemoaned the state of crime intelligence, and said due to its crucial importance in fighting crime, it required further governmental investment in order to assist the police ministry.
“If they want to nip this in the bud, it would have to concentrate on intelligence. The public would tell them who is doing what and it depends on how they access that intelligence to lead to arrests,” he said.
The ANC in the province also supports Holomisa’s call for soldiers to be deployed in the Eastern Cape to deal with extortion.
ANC Provincial spokesperson Loyiso Magqashela said the Eastern Cape ANC has called on law enforcement agencies to seriously address the crime hotspots in the province following the increase in extortion cases in Mthatha.
“The criminals within the province are doing as they please as if there is no law,” Magqashela said.
He reflected on the increase in extortion, hijackings, stock theft and gender based violence; and said the issue of lawlessness had serious consequences for the economy.
“We calling on law enforcement to prevail and show course that they are to cab such crimes that cripples our economy in the province,” he said
Last week uMthatha Ophthalmology Medical Practice announced its permanent closure, with management saying that the office’s premature and permanent closure was due to hostile criminal activities that have threatened lives and well beings.
Earlier this month, President Cyril Ramaphosa noted with concern the rise in crime and violence and said the cooperation between soldiers and SAPS was needed in turning the province around.
Ramaphosa referred to the SAPS-led Operation Shanela (sweep clean), now in its second year, as “a multi-sectoral crime-fighting strategy” with involvement from the SANDF as well as other law enforcement agencies, including the National Traffic Police Unit (NTPU) of the Road Traffic Management Corporation and the provincial traffic authority through to the metro police department.
Earlier this year, the South African Police Service (SAPS) released the Eastern Cape crime summary for the third quarter which reflected an increase in assault, sexual offence, common robbery, theft and violence.
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