Police, SANDF received no training in implementing lockdown regulations

The Democratic Alliance (DA) in Gauteng is not surprised to learn that the SAPS, Metropolitan Police and SANDF received no training in implementing the national lockdown regulations.

This was revealed by the Gauteng Community Safety MEC, Faith Mazibuko in an oral reply to the DA’s questions during a virtual sitting of the Gauteng Provincial Legislature (GPL).

According to MEC Mazibuko, there was no training provided to the law enforcement agencies in terms of implementing the lockdown regulations.

This clearly explains why the police are always flip-flopping in terms of implementing the lockdown regulations which has resulted in the unlawful arrests of innocent law-abiding citizens.

Furthermore, the MEC said 38 698 people have been arrested to date for violating the lock-down regulations in Gauteng and only 25 279 cases have been taken to court. Of these cases, 1387 cases have been postponed due to the lockdown regulations.

The DA is concerned that the law enforcement agencies have not received any training in implementing the lockdown regulations which is why there is confusion and lack of clarity on what people can and can’t be arrested and detained for during the lockdown.

This clearly indicates that law enforcement agencies are interpreting and implementing these regulations incorrectly.

The DA calls on both MEC Mazibuko and Gauteng SAPS Provincial Commissioner, Lieutenant General Elias Mawela to ensure that the law enforcement agencies are provided with training on how to implement the lockdown regulations so that they can differentiate between what is an offence and what is not an offence in terms of failing to comply with the lockdown regulations. In so doing, it will protect our people from being unlawfully harassed and arrested by the police.

DA seeks clarity on level 4 lock-down regulations

The Democratic Alliance (DA) in Gauteng is calling on both the Gauteng Community Safety MEC, Faith Mazibuko and Gauteng SAPS Provincial Commissioner, Lieutenant General Elias Mawela to provide clarity on what people can and can’t do on level 4 in terms of the lockdown regulations.

The DA has been reliably informed that there is lack of clarity on what people can and can’t be arrested and detained for during the lockdown.

It is alleged that law enforcement agencies are arresting and detaining people for noncompliance with the regulations particularly when they are found to not be wearing a mask in public where social distancing is not possible.

This clearly indicates that law enforcement agencies are interpreting and implementing these regulations differently.

The Office of the Limpopo SAPS Deputy Provincial Commissioner has issued a memorandum addressed to all its provincial heads, cluster commanders, station commanders and unit commanders explaining that arrest for contravention of the COVID-19 regulations are not offences in terms of the regulations.

According to the memorandum failure to comply with the following regulations is not an offence; wearing a mask, failure to ensure social distancing in retail stores or institutions and failure to provide sanitiser to the public. When a person is arrested for failure to comply with a COVID- 19 regulation or directive issued in terms of the regulations, which is not an offence, the arrest is unlawful. When the arrest is unlawful it is a cause for a civil claim against the SAPS.

The DA calls on both MEC Mazibuko and Lieutenant General Elias Mawela to provide clarity through a memorandum to its law enforcement agencies on what is an offence and what is not an offence in terms of failure to comply with the lockdown regulations. By so doing it will protect our people from being unlawfully harassed and arrested by the police. We also urge people to adhere to the lockdown regulations in order to flatten the curve and curb the spread of the coronavirus.

MEC protects police over Eersterus protesters

by Michele Clarke MPL – DA Gauteng Spokesperson for Community Safety

It is very disappointing that the Gauteng Community Safety MEC, Sizakele Nkosi-Malobane is defending the police’s actions of violence that injured many residents during the Eersterus service delivery protest.

The MEC was responding to my oral questions tabled in the Gauteng Provincial Legislature yesterday, when she sarcastically labelled the protestors as ‘peaceful’.

According to the MEC Nkosi-Malobane the protestors were violent, having barricaded the roads thereby blocking all entrances to and from Eersterus. Protesters were also physically attacking people and damaging their cars and properties. They broke into the Eersterus police station, disarmed the police at the Client Service Centre, damaged SAPS property and stole items. The protestors also looted the shops around the area.

We dispute the MEC’s claims as the Democratic Alliance has been reliably informed that the protest was indeed peaceful until the police fired rubber bullets and teargas at the protestors. The protestors retaliated by throwing stones at the police.

There were about 129 police officers and 40 public order police officers deployed during the protest.

This raises questions about the adequacy of training that the police receive as the MEC indicated that all police officers are trained in public order policing, and yet appeared to be ill-equipped to deal with the Eersterus protesters in non-violent manner.

So far 16 of the protesters have been arrested for possession of stolen property and drugs.

While we strongly condemn any violence and criminality by protesters, it is essential that our police officers are capacitated to maintain order during any public gathering in a peaceful and effective manner.

The DA calls on the MEC to investigate the conduct of the police during this protest. If it’s found that the police did not follow the correct public order procedures, then swift action needs to be taken against these individuals.

MEC Nkosi-Malobane not above the law

by Michele Clarke MPL – DA Gauteng Spokesperson for Community Safety

The DA is shocked to learn that the Gauteng Community Safety MEC, Sizakele Nkosi-Malobane has been accused of interfering with the work of the police and threatening a police officer to not arrest her son.

It is alleged that Williams Okpara Junior (25) opened a case of common assault and intimidation against the MEC’s son and his ex-girlfriend.

The female police officer investigating the case, who went to arrest the MEC’s son, was allegedly threatened with physical violence by the MEC if her son was arrested.

It has also been alleged that the MEC insulted the police officer.

This is shameful and disgusting behaviour displayed by the MEC who is a political leader in this Department. It is ironic that the MEC whose mandate it is to ensure that perpetrators of crimes are brought to book is now preventing this from happening.

The DA strongly condemns the alleged abuse of power by the MEC for her own personal gain. This cannot be tolerated as no one is above the law.

We demand that the Gauteng Premier, David Makhura urgently investigate these serious allegations. If the MEC is found guilty of abusing her power, she must be held accountable.

Gauteng SAPS station officers without tactical training

 

The Gauteng South African Police Service (SAPS) station officers are not adequately trained to deal with violent crimes and on public order policing despite the fact that this province faces a high number of violent crimes and protests.

This has been revealed by the Vanderbijlpark SAPS Head to the Gauteng Provincial Legislature’s Community Safety Portfolio Committee members.

The Committee visited the Vanderbijlpark police station following the recent attack and assault of police officers by a group of foreign nationals while the officers were raiding a suspected drug den.

In this case, Vanderbijlpark police officers had to call for the public order police in Springs for backup. Lack of human resources is also a challenge facing our police stations that need to be urgently addressed.

The fact that police officers were overwhelmed by these criminals does not instill confidence with the public with regards to their safety and security.

There should be plans to enhance training on public order policing for all our SAPS members from local police stations so that they can adequately defend themselves, maintain order and prevent crime.

Public order policing must be included as part of the curriculum in SAPS training.

The DA condemns the attack on our police officers as disgraceful; such incidents undermine the authority of the state.

We task both Gauteng Community Safety MEC, Sizakele Nkosi-Malobane and Provincial Police Commissioner, Lieutenant General Deliwe de Lange to liaise with their national counterpart, Minister of Police, Fikile Mbalula as a matter of urgency in ensuring that all Gauteng SAPS officers are trained on public order policing.

We therefore call upon the Gauteng Department of Community Safety and the SAPS Provincial Commissioner to ensure that the residents of this province are sufficiently protected.

DA conducts oversight visit to Home Affairs office in Alexandra

Today I, together with the Gauteng Community Safety MEC and ANC’s Alexandra Constituency Head, Sizakele Nkosi-Malobane, conducted an oversight visit to the Home Affairs district offices in Alexandra.

My visit followed an incident on Friday 28 July where, as the office was nearing closing time, officials improperly rushed members of the public away and refused to assist them.

I was there trying to obtain a diplomatic passport and tried to amicably resolve the situation with a senior official who subsequently accosted me in front of my family and all other patrons.

This behavior of the staff, and especially the senior official, was unacceptable, to say the least. It flies in the face of the Batho Pele (“people first”) principles which all public servants must adhere to.

During our oversight visit, issues of quality service, ICT and queueing were addressed. I received an apology from the staff and a commitment that things will change at this office.

The community of Alexandra is predominantly poor and there is no justification for treating anyone badly or passing any judgement. Better quality service is a right, not a privilege.

The DA will closely monitor the progress or lack thereof at this particular Home Affairs branch.

KFC spending spree actually cost R126 000

 

In a reply to written DA questions, Gauteng Community Safety MEC, Sizakele Nkosi-Malobane revealed that the expenditure incurred from “KFC” take-away food for prisoners at Leeuwkop Prison was in fact R126 000 and not R60 000 as was reported last month to the media.

 
This was clearly a desperate attempt to buy prisoners’ votes with KFC at the Leeuwkop Prison.

 
According to the department’s response, all procurement procedures were followed and the expenditure incurred came from the budget of the Office of the MEC.

 
Why would the department mislead the public and the media in saying it cost just over R60 000, when in fact it had been signed off from the Office Budget for over double the amount?

 
Furthermore, MEC Nkosi-Malobane, tried to justify this expenditure in saying prisoners were out of their usual environment and would’ve missed their “prison food”.

 
Indeed, convicted criminals deserve to have their human rights upheld, however, by transgressing the laws of the country, engagements with criminals certainly do not warrant a dish-out of take-away chicken.

 
The DA will submit further questions to obtain the alleged three service provider quotations and all supply chain procurement documentation. We will continue to haul the MEC over the coals and grill her for her decision in dishing out finger-licking food.

 
Media Enquiries:

Michele Clarke MPL
DA Gauteng Spokesperson on Community Safety
060 558 8299

Yaseen Carelse
DA Social Cluster Manager
076 721 8613

[Image Source: http://bit.ly/2nzGfPG]

Conviction Rate in GP Domestic Violence Cases Dismal

Bekkersdal and Randfontein Police Stations

During recent oversight visits to various police precincts across the province, it has become clear that domestic violence is an increasing concern in most of our communities.

Following requests from Bekkersdal and Randfontein residents, I submitted questions to Gauteng Community Safety MEC, Sizakele Nkosi-Malobane, to establish the state of such cases in these areas.

The replies show a high number of cases with very low conviction rates. In Randfontein alone, 511 domestic violence cases were reported in 2014/15 with only 13 successful convictions, while in Bekkersdal, there were no successful convictions despite 155 reported cases in the same year.

Sadly, these two police stations reflect the state of domestic violence across the province with community after community raising their concerns with us.

Successful Conviction

A successful conviction is largely reliant on good police work and many Gauteng residents are not receiving this service from the officers assigned to their safety.

Domestic violence tears apart not only families but the very fabric of our society.

I will be writing to MEC Nkosi-Malobane to discuss ways in which domestic violence policing can be strengthened.

Those who suffer abuse at the hands of those closest to them deserve the closure and safety that a successful conviction brings.

 

Media Enquiries:

Michele Clarke MPL

DA Gauteng Spokesperson: Community Safety
060 558 8309

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Two Year Delay of Gauteng Drug Master Plan Hurts Communities

Gauteng Drugs Master Plan

Gauteng Community Safety MEC, Sizakele Nkosi-Malobane this week announced that the Gauteng Drug Master Plan will only be implemented in Gauteng September 2015, despite that the national plan had been approved and adopted in 2013.Michele Clarke DA Gauteng Shadow MEC for Education

The fact is that the Community Safety Department is dragging its feet to implement a plan approved and formalised on a national level two years, only increases the risk to Gauteng families. The delayed process is disheartening and undermines the people of Gauteng.

Crime Related Drugs

According to CrimeStatsSA’s drug related crime figures, Gauteng precincts reported 59 317 cases of drug related crimes and driving under the influence of drugs and alcohol in 2013 ; and 98 977 in 2014 – a 40 % increase. The ever increasing figures in the last two years are evident that a concerted effort in the war against drugs and drug abuse is urgently needed.

Specialized Drug Units

The announcement by MEC Nkosi-Malobane of having started negotiations around re- introducing specialized units within the province with the Police Minister Nathi Nhleko as well as National Police Commissioner Riah Phiyega is much welcomed.

We will continue to put pressure on MEC Nkosi-Malobane to get these units re-introduced and hold her accountable to her promises.

 

Media Enquiries:

Michele Clarke MPL

DA Spokesperson on Community Safety

060 558 8309

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