The ANC in KwaDukuza were granted permission to stage an anti-crime march in Stanger, just 24 hours ahead of the DA’s march with the same purpose.
The DA’S march was planned for November 17 when the ANC recently submitted an application to march on November 16.
The DA’s Dean Machperson has been challenging police minister Bheki Cele to address the increasing crime rate in Stanger, after it was found that KwaDukuza SAPS had a 1.4 percent conviction rate on cases of rape, murder, and robbery, and zero percent conviction for hijacking.
After a site inspection at KwaDukuza SAPS in June, the DA announced that they would be marching from Stanger’s SADTU grounds to KwaDukuza SAPS on Saturday, November 17 from 10 am.
DA members of parliament John Steenhuisen, Zwakele Mncwango, Mergan Chetty and Dean Macpherson are to attend.
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Macpherson said the ANC’s planned march was “insincere and schizophrenic”.
“This is reminiscent of the ANC marching against E-tolls and the VAT increase in Gauteng recently.
“The ANC can not pretend to be a party of opposition while they are in national government and hold the keys to service delivery.
“Their march comes 24 hours ahead of the DA’s march to the very same police station but to date, not a word has been said by the ANC or it’s government in response to the shocking statistics.
“The DA has consistently and tirelessly worked to expose the weaknesses of SAPS KwaDukuza because we believe the people of Stanger deserve to live in a safe community, protected by a professional and competent police service.”
ANC KwaDukuza spokesperson Thandeka Ngidi confirmed the march would be taking place on Friday but denied any knowledge of the DA’s march.
“This march came as a result of an EXCO meeting between the community policing forum and ward 17.
“In fact, the ANC in ward 17, which includes Stanger Manor, planned the march and we as the sub-region just adopted it.
“We know that the crime rate in Stanger is becoming worse and we need to create awareness.”
The ANC will march from the KwaDukuza ANC regional office to KwaDukuza SAPS from 11 am to 12pm.
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