‘Westonaria church shooting signals possible challenges in crime intelligence’
The Committee calls on the Criminal Justice system to impose harsh sentences on law-enforcement officers who are found guilty of these hideous crimes, as a means to set an example that the conduct of law-enforcement officers in society should be beyond reproach at all times.
The Gauteng Provincial Legislature’s Portfolio Committee on Community Safety is concerned that the shooting and alleged hostage situation at the International Pentecostal Holiness Church in Zuurbekom, Westonaria during the weekend points to possible challenges in police crime intelligence; and the ability to detect and prevent crimes of this nature before they occur.
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Of great concern to the Committee are allegations that among those arrested are members of SAPS, SANDF, JMPD and the Department of Correctional Services, who should be protecting citizens against crime.
In a statement issued on Monday afternoon on behalf of Mapiti Matsena, chairperson of the portfolio committee on community safety, this points to a possibility that the incident might have been well orchestrated and coordinated, and should have been detected and prevented particularly if law-enforcement officers were allegedly involved.
“The police has a dedicated Crime Intelligence Division that was established to manage crime-prevention operations through intelligence-based crime investigations. The Committee is convinced that an incident of this nature should have been detected and prevented through this Division.”
The Committee calls on the Criminal Justice system to impose harsh sentences on law-enforcement officers who are found guilty of these hideous crimes, as a means to set an example that the conduct of law-enforcement officers in society should be beyond reproach at all times.
“South Africa is currently confronted with a devastating pandemic which is taking the lives of many citizens. We therefore cannot find ourselves in a situation where more lives are lost due to senseless killings over issues that could be resolved through constructive legal means. The Committee takes events surrounding this particular incident in a very serious light given the senseless loss of lives, and will call both the MEC for Community Safety, Ms Faith Mazibuko and Provincial Police Commissioner, Lieutenant General Elias Mawela to appear before it and give a detail briefing on what transpired during the day in question.”
“Noting the swift response by law-enforcement officers in arresting suspects in this matter, the Committee will expect both the MEC and Provincial Police Commissioner to brief it on measures that will be put in place to strengthen crime intelligence, in ensuring that such incidents are detected and prevented before they occur.”
