TLU SA / TAU SA
194 James Avenue / Jamesrylaan 194
PO Box 912-51 / Posbus 912-51
SILVERTON / SILVERTON
0127 / 0127
T: (012) 804-8031, F: (012) 804-2014, E: info@tlu.co.za
W: www.tlu.co.za
MEDIA RELEASE MEDIAVERKLARING
PG16/1/39
TAU SA appreciates the Minister of Safety and Security's announcement that criminals attacking foreign visitors, should not expect any leniency from the SAPS. The Minister made this announcement after several groups of foreign visitors have been violated, assaulted and robbed by criminals.
It is however regrettable that the Minister does not address crime against South African citizens with the same enthusiasm and gravity. The current state of affairs indicate that criminals are going about their business with more confidence and arrogance. Both figuratively and literally, they are getting away with murder.
It is becoming obvious that government is focussing on the safety of foreign visitors expected during the 2010 Soccer World Cup whilst South Africans will be left to their own devices. This state of affairs is totally unacceptable.
It is also increasingly becoming evident that SAPS members at grass roots level are displaying subjective judgement in their approach to crime. TAU SA is convinced that, irrespective of the possibility of civil action against police officials, wrongful arrests of individuals are increasing. Two recent separate arrests of farmers in the Limpopo Province and the subsequent confiscation of their firearms, are typical examples. Not even a very clear directive from the National Commissioner has any effect on this state of affairs.
A clear and dangerous possibility exists that police officials might interpret their Minister's announcement in their own way and that the abuse of authority will increase. This will consequently create an even greater divide between the SAPS and the citizens they are supposed to serve and will in no small way contribute to growing tension which will become increasingly difficult to control.
TLU SA neem met dankbaarheid kennis van die opmerking deur die Minister van Veiligheid en Sekuriteit dat kriminele wat buitelandse besoekers teister geen genade van die SAPD moet verwag nie. Die Minister het hierdie aankondiging gemaak nadat verskillende groepe buitelandse besoekers deur kriminele oorrompel, aangerand en beroof was.
Dis net jammer dat die Minister nie misdaad teen Suid-Afrikaanse burgers met ewe veel entoesiasme en erns aanspreek nie. Die huidige toedrag van sake in die land toon dat misdadigers met toenemende selfvertroue en arrogansie letterlik en figuurlik gesproke met moord wegkom.
Dit raak duidelik dat die regering met die oog op die 2010 Sokkerwęreldbeker toenemend fokus op die veiligheid van buitelandse besoekers terwyl normale Suid-Afrikaners in die proses aan hul eie lot oorgelaat word. Uiteraard is hierdie toedrag van sake totaal onaanvaarbaar.
Daarbenewens blyk dit duidelik dat SAPD lede op grondvlak alreeds tekens van subjektiewe voorkeur toon in die hantering van misdaad. TLU SA is van mening dat, ondanks die moontlikheid van sivielregtelike eise teen polisiebeamptes, daar aanduidings bestaan van al hoe meer onregmatige arrestasies van individue. Die onlangse afsonderlike arrestasies van twee boere in die Limpopo Provinsie en die daaropvolgende konfiskering van die betrokkenes se vuurwapens is tipiese voorbeelde. Nie eers die bestaan van 'n duidelike direktief onderteken deur die Nasionale Kommissaris, het enige uitwerking op hierdie toedrag van sake nie.
Daar bestaan 'n wesenlike gevaar dat polisiebeamptes hul Minister se opmerking op 'n totaal ander wyse sal intepreteer en dat die magsvergrype wat reeds sigbaar is, net sal toeneem. Dit sal gevolglik groter verwydering tussen die SAPD en die burgery, wat deur hulle gedien behoort te word, tot gevolg hę en sodoende bydra tot 'n groter konflikpotensiaal wat moeilik beheerbaar sal wees.