The African National Congress(ANC) in the Eastern Cape is shocked and appalled by brutal killing of an awaiting trial prisoner inside police holding cells in Mthatha by balaclava clad gunmen ,in the early hours of yesterday( Monday 13th August 2018) in a suspected hit linked to the on-going taxi wars .
We have also noted with grave concern the high levels of crime around Mthatha area with high-jacking’s, business robberies , killings and hijacking of government owned properties with impunity .
At all times every effort should be made to ensure that the problems confronting our people are called by their rightful names – thus focusing government and society as a whole to deal with them decisively. These include tightening our crime intelligence apparatus, intensifying the fight against crime, drugs and substance abuse as well as violence against women and children .
Despite the amnesties and other measures utilised by the South African Police Services (SAPS) to minimise guns from our communities, it is becoming clear that there are still too many illegal firearms out there, and this has been demonstrated by the continuous killings of innocent victims who have at times found themselves in the crossfire between those who are for justice and those who are for lawlessness.
Members and supporters of the ANC are called upon to swell the ranks of Community Policing Forums (CPF) which are organs of peoples power, established to ensure that working with law enforcement agencies, communities take charge of the safety of their localities. We also call on society at large to lead the charge, within our legal framework, against the destabilizing effects of shielding criminals within our communities and our homes. This would also include reporting to the authorities drug peddlers and other criminals, South African and otherwise, living within our communities. The law enforcement agencies themselves should spare no effort and without fear or favour, ensure that they apprehend, charge and convict those criminal elements within our midst who continue to terrorize our communities.
We want to see proper policing in the form of investigations, arrests, prosecutions and convictions in the cases of killings violent attacks, including violence in general. Our communities must expose those who harbour criminals and illegal firearms.We call on government to implement stricter gun laws and harsher sentences.We encourage all police officers to be vigilant and have their bullet proofs on at all times and to further treat each crime call-up as serious. Police need to be vigilant and act decisively at anyone pointing a gun to citizens .
We also call upon the society to join in the fight against the scourge of crime, because crime fighting shouldn’t only be a matter for the Police, nor government, but a societal matter.This state of affairs must end. We need to reclaim our societies from criminals.As part of ending these criminals’ bliss, we appeal to all communities to work together with the police and government in confronting those who aim to destroy our society.
The fight against crime is an apex priority of the ANC-led Government requiring committed, coordinated and determined action by all social partners.
Issued by:
ANC EC Provincial Secretary
Cde Lulama Ngcukayitobi
Enquiries:
ANC Media & Liaison Officer
Judy Mpetsheni
Mobile No: 0636878267/0731176194
ANC Communications Manager
Gift Ngqondi
Mobile No:0848439706/0849519924
