Why Afriforum Have Confidence In Police Minister Mchunu’s Crime Fighting Plans

Police Minister Senzo Mchunu has laid out comprehensive plans to tackle the high crime levels in South Africa. Through various urgent interventions, Mchunu aims to combat gang violence, the construction mafia, and the killing of women and children.

In his first week in office, he met with the executive management, provincial commissioners, and divisional heads of the South African Police Service (SAPS) to understand the portfolio’s challenges and opportunities.

Mchunu emphasized the need for decisive action to control crime. He noted that crime types and levels differ across provinces, necessitating a tailored approach. Leading crimes in the country include murder, rape, hijacking, and kidnapping for ransom.

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The killing of women and children remains a serious concern, warranting intensive action.

Gang violence, particularly in the Western Cape, is also on the rise. Mchunu stressed the importance of controlling the situation so that children in areas like Cape Flats, Khayelitsha, Nelson Mandela Bay, and parts of Gauteng can live without fear.

Mchunu highlighted that police officers’ safety is a priority, as they act as a buffer between citizens and anarchy. He condemned attacks on police officers, stating that such acts are a declaration of war on the state and its people.

Ian Cameron, Chair of the Portfolio Committee on Police, welcomed Mchunu’s intention to provide necessary resources, including technology tools and vehicles, to well-resource police stations.

Cameron also stressed the need to address imbalances in resource allocation, such as the disparity between the Police VIP Protection Unit and the Family Violence, Child Protection, and Sexual Offences Unit.

As Mchunu maps out the priorities and urgent tasks, he plans to implement an integrated national crime prevention strategy. This approach takes into account the varying crime levels across provinces, aiming for a cohesive and effective response.

The focus is on reducing contact crimes, ensuring the safety of women and children, and effectively dealing with gang violence and other critical issues.

AfriForum’s community safety chief spokesperson Johan Broodryk expressed confidence in Mchunu and his administration.

“We will continue to foster good working relationships with the police and the minister. We look forward to what he can do and working with the new administration,” he said.

“We will also not hesitate to call out any form of corruption or political interference.

“Our 177 neighbourhood and farm watch structures nationwide have good relationships with their local police stations and officers. We look forward to fostering these relationships on higher levels as well.”

But criminologist Dr Witness Maluleke wasn’t as optimistic about the minister’s promises to deal with crime.

“Talk shops like these have been held over the years, without proper implementation,” he said.

Maluleke, however, said there was hope this could be a new avenue but doubted it would bear positive results.