It has never been as clear as now that the implementation of the Rural Safety Plan is key to combating crime in rural areas.
The Minister of Police Bheki Cele’s crime figures from July-September 2022 show once again that crime in South Africa is out of control and that there is no indication of a SAPS’ plan to do anything about it.
All figures showing violent crimes have increased compared to this period last year.
“The fact that meetings for the regions regarding the Rural Security Plan are currently being postponed without any indication of when they will take place is extremely worrying. It is necessary that the plan gathering dust should come to life in certain regions. But since the summit in Parys earlier this year where there was a lot of talk and big promises made there has been a resounding silence from the persons who are responsible,” says Mr Hugo Pretorius, Chairman of TLU SA’s Safety Committee.
“Basic policing at the ground level falls far short. Increased crime rates – an increase in already frightening figures – is clear evidence that there are serious internal management problems and an inability to address crime. From all quarters, people are increasingly expressing their displeasure with the service provided by SAPS. This extends from visibility, attending to complaints to the investigation of crime. The icing on the cake is that statistics are unfortunately only a representation of reported crime, and the public no longer has confidence in the police’s ability to do anything about the situation, so some crimes are not even reported anymore.”
The SAPS is facing problems such as a serious lack of vehicles and equipment. However, this is only part of the problem.
“One sometimes gets the impression that the will to do their job is lacking. In the cases where Jan Alleman still reports cases, they often must do it twice or later hear that the dossier is incomplete or even just missing. It makes an already despondent person even more despondent.”
Mr Pretorius refers to the fact that the public is increasingly dependent on themselves to address safety.
“Farmers are turning to the private sector and other alternative safety equipment. The costs associated with this are sometimes astronomical and not everyone can always raise the funds. We must now accept responsibility for our own safety. Also, those of our families and the persons who work for us. We can no longer rely on the SAPS. This is the reality.”
Read the original article in Afrikaans on TLU SA
