Agb Voorsitter, ons weet dat in Suid- Afrika het misdaad 'n ernstige invloed op elke individu,
en ook op die samelewing en al sy fasette, veral ook die ekonomie van Suid- Afrika.
English:
The question that arises is, whose responsibility is it to ensure that we have less crime in South Africa? I want to quote section 205(3) of the Constitution of South Africa which states quite clearly that:
The objects of the police service are to prevent, combat and investigate crime, to maintain public order, to protect and secure the inhabitants of the Republic and their property, and to uphold and enforce the law.
So, there's actually no doubt as to the question of whose responsibility it is. It is the government of the day, by means of the SA Police Service ... to protect the people of South Africa, their lives as well as their property, when it comes to criminality.
Firstly, I also want to say that the moment you talk about crime, people always think it's only for the
police. Yes, that is what section 205(3) states in our Constitution, but if we in South Africa want to fight crime we must look at the total criminal justice system. That includes the police, it includes the judiciary and it includes correctional services.
Now, let's get to the police. There are many problems when it comes to the police. One has been quite clearly stated by the Judge President of Mpumalanga, Mr Frans Legodi. He said that it had become a feature of the weekly argument or urgent motion roll that urgent applications were made accusing the police of refusing to intervene, even when faced by clear criminal activity, unless they were given a court order directing them to act. Such an attitude by the police would be wrong and would encourage lawlessness. That's exactly what is happening in South Africa. We get situations where there is total inaction on the side of the police.
Afrikaans:
Kom ek gee vir u een voorbeeld. Daar was nou onlangs 'n geval in KwaZulu- Natal by die Normandien Polisiestasie, waar 'n boer, Mnr Anton Pitout, aangeval en met stokke
geslaan was. Hy wou 'n klag van ernstige geweldsmisdaad, naamlik aanranding met die opset om ernstig te beseer, gel het, maar toe is daar 'n ene kaptein Msibi wie geweier het dat 'n klag gel word. Hoekom? Want kaptein Msibi van die Normandien Polisiestasie het met die gemeenskap gerel dat sy beeste gratis binne die gemeenskappe kan rondloop. So, hy is eintlik korrup en omdat hy korrup is, weier hy om daardie klag te aanvaar. Ondersoek dit en sorg dat ons die resultaat kry. Anders sou ek dit nie hier ges het nie.
English:
It's the first time since I'm in Parliament and that's since 1994 ... even before 1994, that the seven crimes - when it comes to contact crimes and specifically to individuals - have risen, as far as the crime statistics for 2018-19 are concerned.
Murder increased by 3,4%. A total of 21 022 people were murdered in South Africa. The comparison must be the international standard. The international standard, or shall I say the figure for murder, is seven per 100 000 of the population, but in South Africa the murder
rate is 36 per 100 000 of the population. Therefore, you cannot blame people if they say that South Africa is a violent country and it is unsafe in South Africa. If you just look at the crime that's taking place then you will realise that that is the truth.
Afrikaans:
Die vraag is, wat moet gedoen word? Dit is die regering wat moet optree. Hy moet verseker dat sy polisiediens van misdadigers gesuiwer is. Ons sien dat meer as 4 000 van hulle kriminele rekords het, maar hulle is steeds in die polisiediens. Die swak appels maak dat die diens 'n slegte naam kry, selfs vir daardie lede wat goeie polisielede is en wie hul diens lewer.
Laastens wil ek vir u s dat ons by 'n situasie kom waar die Minister van Justisie na vore tree ... [Tussenwerpsels.]