A GROUP of Democratic Alliance West Durban councillors joined DA Federal Leader, Mmusi Maimane, in a peaceful protest outside the SAPS provincial headquarters in Durban recently.
The aim of the protest, which was also attended by eThekwini Caucus leader, Nicole Graham and Provincial Leader, Zwakele Mcwango, was to hand over a memorandum calling for a ban, that prevented MPs and MPLs from opposition parties from doing oversight visits at police stations, to be lifted.
DA leader Mmusi Maimane lambasted SAPS KwaZulu-Natal acting commissioner, Lt-Gen Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi, after he issued a circular to policing cluster commanders in which he said political parties, irrespective of which party it is, that visited police stations to inquire about police business regarding operations, crime, resources, finances, etc should not be given the information.
Maimane said police cannot police themselves, they must allow MPs and MPLs to perform their oversight roles.
Democratic Alliance chairperson for the West Durban Constituency, Cllr Marlaine Nair, said, “We are so tired of hearing about the shortage of vehicles and manpower to deal with the growing crime levels in Pinetown and surrounds. Women and children are being raped, our elderly are robbed and mugged. Drugs are free flowing in our communities.These are issues that need urgent attention. We can’t allow police stations to fall apart and become non-functional. We understand the challenges and lack of resources that the police have to deal with.”
Cllr Nair encouraged residents to continue reporting all crimes and to work closely with Community Policing Forum groups to assist and be pro active in combating crime.
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