Deputy Speaker, the Western Cape gang strategy is in place. There are four types of gangs, namely the township gangs, Cape Flats gangs, prison gangs and foreign groupings. Each gang requires a specific approach, depending on their unique dynamics.
The situation in Khayelitsha and other areas requires a long-term and multidisciplinary approach, which includes addressing the socioeconomic conditions in the area. The South African Police Service has adopted the following strategy to deal with the current situation: increased capacity to gather intelligence information in these areas; increased police capacity in these areas; increased police visibility; increased community mobilisation and interaction; as well as partnerships and co-operation with government departments and some nongovernmental organisations. Ministers in the social and economic sectors will also be studying the situation and looking for long-term solutions that promote sustainable development and stable communities.
We will monitor the situation to ascertain the success of the initiatives and further decisions will be taken if necessary.
Deputy Speaker, the reality is that everything government has attempted so far has not produced the desired results. The gang violence that is now taking place in Khayelitsha has prompted members of the Congress of Democratic Taxi Associations to intensify their crime prevention campaign in that township. Their leaders say they have decided to intervene because gangsterism, in spite of what government is doing, is increasing. They are reported to be disarming gangsters and keeping weapons in their offices before handing them over to the police. I believe that is dangerous, as those guns can fall into the hands of the criminals.
Minister, we all know that if the gangs that are being disarmed by the taxi owners start shooting at the taxi drivers, then retaliation from those taxi drivers will have disastrous consequences. To prevent this potential threat of confrontation from taking place, I want to know if the Minister will consider reintroducing special units to deal with gangsterism and illicit drugs. If the answer is yes, when can we expect these units to start operating, because government is unsuccessful; and if not, why not?
Deputy Speaker, the issue of gangsterism, especially in the Western Cape, is not a police issue alone. Each and every individual, including baruti [priests], is part of the solution to this problem. The taxi industry is part of the solution to this. These criminals that you are talking about don't fall from trees; they have homes and families. They should be part of the solution.
Yes, Mr Meshoe, when you talk about specialised units, we have the Hawks, who deal with special cases such as these. What we, including the churches, therefore need to do is just support the Hawks so that they can deal with the issue.
Deputy Speaker - oh, I see the chair is also empty. So, Deputy Minister, I am quite sure you know of the launch today of the commission of inquiry into allegations of police inefficiency in Khayelitsha, as the community believes that the police has not been doing its job in arresting known gangsters, criminals and drug lords. This is an honest attempt by the Western Cape government to get to the bottom of the situation. Will the Deputy Minister assure this House that she will instruct members of the SAPS to co-operate as fully as possible with the inquiry and certainly implement the recommendations?
Deputy Speaker, members of the SAPS have always co-operated, especially when it comes to the issues of fighting crime. No, I don't know about a commission of inquiry. I am hearing of it for the first time now, from you. Maybe the Minister knows, but I don't. I think you must also take it upon yourself, as the people who are ruling this Western Cape province, to make sure that the lives of the people of Khayelitsha and the Cape Flats are bettered. [Interjections.]
Thobani umsindo bantu. [Please calm down, people.]
Ngiyabonga Somlomo, awubakhuze futhi. Mhlonishwa, uma uthi unazo izindlela zokulwa nezigebengu, senikwazile yini ukuboka ukuthi yiziphi izigebengu ezingabaholi? Ngisho ngoba kufuneka ube nendlela yokulwa nezigebengu ngoba usuzazi ukuthi ziholwa ngubani, oqhamuka kuphi. Ngiyabonga. (Translation of isiZulu paragraph follows.)
[Mr V B NDLOVU: Thank you, hon Speaker; caution them again, please. Hon Deputy Minister, if you say you have ways of fighting against criminals, have you been able to identify who of these criminals are masterminds? I say this because you will have ways to fight criminals when you know who their mastermind is and where he comes from. Thank you.]
USEKELA-MPHATHISWA WEZAMAPOLISA: Enkosi Tat'uNdlovu. Abona bantu bazaziyo izigebenga ukuba zihlala phi yiDA ngoba uMEC weDA uneengxoxo azibiza ngokuba ziPeace Accord apho ahlala khona neenkokeli zegangsters bezama indlela yokufikelela kwisivumelwano ekulweni le nto. Ngoko ke oyena mntu uzaziyo izigebenga nguDA, makabuze pha kuMEC Dan Plato. Enkosi tata. (Translation of isiXhosa paragraph follows.)
[The DEPUTY MINISTER OF POLICE: Thank you, Mr Ndlovu. The people who know where gangsters live are the DA because from time to time a DA, MEC holds what he calls "peace accords" with leaders of the gangsters in his community, trying to find a solution to this problem. It is therefore the DA that knows who the gangsters are, so he should ask MEC Dan Plato. Thank you, sir.]
Deputy Speaker, on a point of order: If I heard correctly, the Deputy Minister was implying that the DA was friends with gangsters. Is that what she said?
No, you didn't hear correctly. Sit down, please.
Deputy Speaker, my follow-up question to the Deputy Minister is that, as far as I can remember, the provincial MEC doesn't quite have the constitutional power to direct mainly what the police should do in the province. That remains a national competency.
The second thing I want to say is that there is killing of children in the Western Cape. The senseless killing of bystanders is a serious matter that requires serious attention. Do you think Crime Intelligence has the capacity to deal with this? On the issue of community involvement, we have not seen it happening as you speak today. I asked the police about this yesterday. They have spoken about the issue of the mobilisation of the community so that it can play a role in the fight against gangsterism. The question is: Are you satisfied with what you have seen and with what more is going to be done to save the lives of the children in the Western Cape?
MOTLATSA LETONA LA SEPOLESA: Ntate Ramatlakane, o ne o le Letona provenseng ena mme o tseba hantle hore o bua ka eng. Ha Mopresidente a ne a kopane le Letona la Tshireletso le Mekaubere ya Sesole le Letona la Sepolesa matsatsi a sa tswa feta, o ile a mema ditlahiso le ho bolela hore ke dife dintho tse tla etswa ho lwantshana le botlokotsebe ka hara provensi ena ya Kapa Bophirima. Hape ke sa pheta ke re seabo sa lona jwaloka baahi ba Kapa Bophirima, se bohlokwa haholo. Leha ho jwalo, ke a o tshepisa hore re tla matlafatsa sepolesa hore se tsebe ho lwantsha botlokotsebe ka hara provensi ena ya hao. Ke a leboha. (Translation of Sesotho paragraph follows.)
[The DEPUTY MINISTER OF POLICE: Hon Ramatlakane, you used to be an MEC in this province and you know exactly what you are talking about. When the President met with the Minister of Defence and Military Veterans as well as the Minister of Police a few days ago, he invited suggestions and outlined what would be done in order to fight crime in the Western Cape Province. I would also like to repeat that your role as community members in the Western Cape is very important. Nonetheless, I promise you that we will strengthen the police so that they will be able to fight crime in your province. Thank you.]
Deputy Speaker, I want to rise on a point of clarity regarding what the Deputy Minister said about the DA. I would like to request ... [Interjections.]
Hon member, I didn't ask you to stand up.
I would like to request ... [Interjections.] ... that you study the Hansard and make a ruling on what she said.
On what she said now - the answer, or what?
No, on what she said earlier about the DA - the issue that was raised by the hon Watson.
Hon member, take your seat, please.
I am rising on a point of clarity. I would like you to investigate and to see exactly what the Minister said. [Interjections.]
I heard you, hon member. Can you sit down now?
Particulars regarding possible withdrawal of National Prosecuting Authority from International Association of Prosecutors
228. Ms M Smuts (DA) asked the Minister of Justice and Constitutional Development:
(1) Whether a certain person (name furnished) has communicated her intent to withdraw the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) from the International Association of Prosecutors (IAP); if not, what is the position in this regard; if so,
(2) whether the said person's intent to withdraw was communicated subsequent to IAP bestowing an award on a certain person (name furnished); if not, what is the position in this regard; if so, what are the relevant details?