Dear Editor
The Democratic Alliance (DA) is deeply concerned by the shockingly low 5% conviction rate of illegal firearm-related charges as recently highlighted by the City of Cape Town. The City has indicated that investigative and prosecutorial failures represent the biggest stumbling block in fighting gangsterism on the Cape Flats.
While we recognise and applaud the City’s work in trying to give effect to Cape Flats residents’ constitutional right to a safe environment, it is common cause that eradicating the abhorrent levels of criminality in these communities is an impossible task without a functional prosecuting authority.
A 5% conviction rate of illegal firearm charges is not just unacceptable and suggests serious systemic failures bordering on incompetence. It is for this reason that we will request that the NPA be called before the Portfolio Committee on Justice and Constitutional Development to explain the reasons for these terrible statistics.
Access to illegal firearms is one of the biggest predecessors to violent crime, and the police and the NPA must take securing convictions in these crimes seriously. Increased investigative capacity and quicker ballistics processing are crucial in the fight against gangsterism, but the blame cannot simply be attributed to the SAPS alone, especially not while vulnerable community members are gunned down in the streets every day.
This is a national problem, and must be recognised as such. It is inexcusable that gun violence is allowed to continue in a city doing its utmost to provide a safe environment for its citizens. The fact of the matter is that the NPA, together with police, must start pulling their weight.
The DA eagerly awaits a briefing by the NPA to Parliament, so that urgent solutions can be found to the crisis of violence in the Cape Flats. A failure to act immediately to increase safety in these communities represents a failure to acknowledge the dignity of its citizens.
If we want to facilitate economic expansion and job creation in these areas, a safe environment is crucial to allowing new and existing businesses to flourish in the Cape Flats. Ineptitude of the role players in the Criminal Justice system cannot stand in the way of the fight against crime.
Regards
Adv. Glynnis Breytenbach MP
DA Spokesperson on Justice and Constitutional Development