36/1/4/1/201100168
NATIONAL COUNCIL OF PROVINCES
FOR WRITTEN REPLY
QUESTION NO 333
DATE OF PUBLICATION IN INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER: 26 AUGUST 2011
(INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER NO 26- 2011)
Date reply submitted: 20 September 2011
333. Mr A J Nyambi (ANC-Mpumalanga) to ask the Minister of Police:
(1) Whether any statistics is being kept by the Government or any entity
regarding the extent of vigilantism or organised criminality in our
communities; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details;
(2) whether the SA Police Service regards vigilantism as a priority; if
not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details?
CW380E
REPLY:
(1) The South African Police Service does not keep statistics on
âvigilantismâ. The phenomenon is not defined as a separate category
of crime according to the law. The crimes committed during incidents
of vigilantism are recorded as either murders, attempted murders,
assaults, arson, etc and form part of the statistics of these crimes
annually released by the Minister of Police. Information regarding
vigilantism is therefore recorded for operational purposes only and
utilized as such.
(2)Â Â Â Â Â Â As Minister of Police I have held meetings with Communities
affected by such vigilantism to address this issue.
Within the South African Police Service an instruction has been issued
instructions that, concerted efforts and specific focus must be
devoted by the South African Police to the prevention and combating of
acts of vigilantism across South Africa.
Reply to question 333 approved by the Minister