Dear Editor
The Democratic Alliance (DA) proposed that Parliament holds the Minister of Police to account for his May 2025 promise to strengthen policing in the Western Cape with “extraordinary measures” – but the ANC in the National Council of Provinces has bizarrely voted against this.
The ANC voted down a motion by Hon. Gotsell for better policing in the Western Cape, on the 1st of July 2025.
The DA wants to see the South African Police Service (SAPS) Anti-Gang Unit in the Western Cape beefed up to fight gangs and drugs, but the ANC does not agree.
The ANC went further to object to the motion through their whip in the Select Committee on Security and Justice.
The ANC’s rejection of this motion is tantamount to voting against citizens who live in fear every day. There is no question why the ANC would vote against such a motion – it does not care about the safety of people in the Western Cape.
The NCOP, is the bridge between provinces and the national government in Parliament and is specifically mandated to represent the provinces to ensure that provincial interests are taken into account in national government.
We will continue to push for the implementation of anti-gang interventions and resources for the Western Cape Anti-Gang Unit, despite the best efforts by the ANC to prevent this.
Regards
Rikus Badenhorst
Western Cape Provincial Whip in the NCOP