The North West Provincial Legislature’s Portfolio Committee on Public Works, Roads, Community Safety and Transport Management has welcomed the report on the crime statistics report for the 4th quarter of 2022/23 released by the Department of Community Safety and Transport Management.
The Portfolio Committee noted and alarming increase of about 4.8 % in the crime incidents in the province between January and March 2023 when compared to January to March 2022 making up all forms of crime reported to hit 24 134. Chairperson of the Committee, Hon. Mmoloki Cwaile said the Committee is concerned, amongst others, with the increased number of crime incidents of residential robberies affecting community members at the home where they should feel most safe. “The report shows increase in total number of domestic violence criminal cases standing at 1 733 cases related to domestic violence with about 1 339 cases being crimes against women and children.
“The gender-based violence and femicide is happening at an unprecedented rate and herein Committee wishes to encourage men to desist from pursuing crimes against women and children,” said Hon. Cwaile.
The North West Province capital city based Mmabatho Police Station has recorded the highest number of sexual related crimes and disturbingly and an increase of incidents of child neglect and ill-treatment. Committee calls for the villages to take care of their children and that neighbours, activists and civil society organisations should to do more in combating crimes and complement the work of the police.
“The abuse of alcohol remains one other factor that exacerbate the violence incidents and cannot be left unchallenged. The full implementation of the National Drug Master plan needs to be taken to logical conclusion. The abuse of alcohol and drugs must be counter-acted and all role players must do their part. It is a societal problem and all of us must play role”, said Hon Cwaile.
The department reported that ‘a considerable number of cases resulted from the abuse of alcohol by both the victims and perpetrators and that the occurrence of those incidents happened at the alcohol selling premises like taverns. “It is obvious that the licences for liquor outlets should impose the responsibility on the part of the owners and traders to exercise including provision of security for protection of users of their services,” Hon Cwaile.
He said the Committee directs that the hotspots should be given more attention and that more resources should be deployed to mitigate and terminate high risks identified. “This also requires intelligence driven interventions and responses. In terms of Districts; most crime incidents were in Bojanala Platinum, with a total contribution of forty-one-point six percent (41, 6%), followed by Dr Kenneth Kaunda with twenty-five-point five percent (25.5%), Ngaka Modiri Molema with twenty-two-point two percent (22.2%) and Dr Ruth Segomotsi Mompati with ten-point six percent (10.6%),” said Hon. Cwaile.
The Portfolio Committee encourages well calculated plans and concerted coordinated efforts with all role players having a clear role in mitigating against all kinds of criminal activities, and that the community-based organizations (CBO’s) and civil society organizations (CSO’s) should the complement the work of the police. It is for this reason the Portfolio Committee calls for improved role of police civilian secretariat in mobilization of the members of our communities in playing active role in combating, preventing and reporting crimes in our homes, streets and workplace.
The Portfolio Committee is of the view that the establishment, funding, support and resourcing of more Community Policing Forums (CPF) and Non-Profit Organizations (NPO) would add positive impetus in intensifying war against crime and boast crime prevention initiatives. The efforts being made by the department in capacity building of CPFs to enhance their ability to participate in the crime prevention strategies and to create temporary employment by appointing 400 community safety patrollers across all the four Districts, through the Extended Public Works Programme (EPWP) are welcomed and appreciated.
The Portfolio Committee calls on the police to respond swiftly and promptly to crime being reported and to improve communication and feedback mechanisms when dealing with the victims and police stations must become first point of entry into available government services to serve and support the victims of crime. simply are not helping when criminality is reported.
The Portfolio Committee would engage the civilian secretariat in seeking the review of approaches and strategy of police geared at combating stock theft, farming community-based crimes and rural policing. “The PC is concerned about rapidly increasing cases of crime, unprecedented levels of violence against women and children, and disruption of critical infrastructure meant to service masses of our people.” Says PC Chair, Hon Cwaile.
The Portfolio Committee appeals to the SAPS Department of Police Crime Investigations (DPCI) known as the Hawks to move with necessary speed in processing reported cases of allegations of corruption and malfeasance and the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) to make decisions on whether to prosecute or not swiftly to help deal with backlog. The PC hopes that such acts of timeous actions by law enforcement agencies would help mitigate against the trust deficit and build necessary confidence in their willingness and capacities to tackle crimes affecting lives and livelihoods of many of our people whose interests are undermined by the acts of corruption denying them services most needed by the communities. The PC would continue to work with and support the department and police in discharging their responsibilities aimed at ensuring safety of our communities.
Ends
Issued by: North West Provincial Legislature: Media & Communications Unit on behalf of the Chairperson of the Portfolio Committee on Public Works and Roads, Community Safety and Transport Management, Hon Mmoloki Cwaile
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