Dear Editor
The Democratic Alliance (DA) welcomes the submission of a memorandum, to be signed by all Western Cape DA Mayors, to the Ministers of Police and Justice. This memorandum represents a clear and urgent demand to empower capable municipalities with the policing powers and resources needed to make our communities safer.
This week alone, over 37 lives have been brutally taken, marking a shocking surge in deadly crime across the province. On top of this, the ongoing and escalating taxi violence continues to wreak havoc, further destabilising our communities and undermining the economy.
We cannot allow this crisis to continue unchecked. It is time for a united front to tackle crime with the urgency and seriousness it demands.
The DA notes the willingness of Acting Minister of Cachalia, who has engaged with this crisis in a far more open and constructive manner than his predecessor. Where former Minister Bheki Cele arrogantly declared that the devolution of policing would happen “over my dead body,” the new Acting Minister has made it clear that the door must remain open and conversations must continue.
We reiterate our long-standing call for the devolution of policing powers.
The Western Cape needs greater management control, proper deployment strategies, and most importantly, strengthened detective and investigative capacity to fight this battle effectively. Evidence from our province has already shown that when skilled legal professionals are deployed to assist at police stations, drafting statements and supporting investigations, the quality of dockets improves dramatically. We need more of this, not less.
The DA will not stand by while crime destroys lives and futures. That is why this memorandum is being submitted to urgently advance our demand that capable municipalities be empowered with the authority, resources, and policing powers necessary to make our communities safer.
We therefore call on Minister Cachalia to set out a clear deadline by which he will respond to this memorandum and indicate the steps his department will take to expedite the devolution of policing powers to the Western Cape and other capable municipalities.
Words are no longer enough, action is overdue.
Regards
Lisa Schickerling MP
DA Spokesperson on Police