Following the recent release of crime statistics, the National Freedom Party Youth Movement (NFPYM) is now convinced that General Riah Phiyega is a pathetic failure.
The SAPS reported 17 805 murders for the year, about five percent more than the previous year. KwaZulu-Natal once again had the highest number of murders with 3810. The biggest provincial increase in murders was in Gauteng with 3671 murders which was a 10 percent increase followed by the Western Cape with an increase of nearly 10 percent to 3186 murders. Robbery with aggravating circumstances i.e. armed and violent robberies were up nearly nine percent from 118 963 to 129 045.
If this is not an indictment of dismal failure by the National Police Commissioner, General Phiyega, then we don’t know what is. General Phiyega is not fulfilling her responsibility to protect citizens. Actually, reading between the lines, one can conclude that General Phiyega is the main reason behind the increase in contact crimes which has reached a catastrophic height.
As the NFPYM, we are of the view that General Phiyega must do the honourable thing today and resign from her post as police commissioner. Resigning rather than being fired will at least give her a dignified exit. Over and above that, we feel that she has to be charged for crimes against humanity because she is responsible for the killing of Andreas Tatane and other miners during the Marikana massacre. Our country will be a better place without her around.
Our assessment on police killings taking place in the country currently indicates that her incorrect decision-making has created animosity between the community and police and as such, she must go.
NFPYM secretary general,
Maria Busi Tshabalala
