Police and Criminal Justice Sytem being Questioned

Leonie Pretorius

19 April 2016

Western Cape MEC of Community Safety, Dan Plato, in his report yesterday says a lack of trust in the police and the criminal justice system and the perception that some officers are corrupt, were some of the safety needs and key points highlighted  in the 2015-2016 Provincial Policing Needs and Priorities report.

 The report presented by Plato is the Western Cape department of Community Safety’s official submission to national Police Minister Nathi Nhleko.

Meanwhile, the Chairperson of the Portfolio Committee on Police, Mr Francois Beukman, expressed serious concern about the state of community safety in Chicago Township in Paarl East, Western Cape.

During his constituency work yesterday and subsequent briefing by community leaders and councillors, it came to the fore that people in Chicago were living in fear in light of the ongoing fights between rival teenage gangs in the community.

 Beukman says Although the root of the problem could be directly linked to the socio-economic conditions in the area, the police still needed more resources in order to root out all acts of criminality and elements of public disorder.