By KEDIBONE MOLAETSI
7 May 2025- The Portfolio Committee on Police said it is of the view that the South African Police Service’s continued use of conventional methods to combat gang violence is not assisting to achieve success, as communities struggle under the strain of organised crime. Today, the committee received a petition from Yusuf Cassim, a member of the Eastern Cape Legislature on the ongoing gang violence in the northern areas of Nelson Mandela Bay.
The Chairperson of the Committee, Ian Cameron said they have noted that the SAPS continues to adopt a nonchalant approach to the scourge of gang violence, despite the concerning fear that communities must contend with daily. Cameron said, also, the impact of gang murders on the high murder rate is not taken as a priority.
“Furthermore, although the police have committed to a data-centric approach to policing, the continued under-resourcing of police stations with high crime rates and the complete disregard of the Anti-Gang Unit continues to inhibit the unit’s ability to meaningfully target and arrest gang leaders to achieve the objective of dismantling these gangs.
“While the committee is cognisant of the socio-economic factors that encourage gang affiliation in these areas and which require a collaborative approach from various stakeholders, the committee remains concerned about the unwillingness of SAPS to implement intelligence operations intended to infiltrate and disrupt gangs,” he said.
Cameron further said the SAPS must also consider using technological advances as force multipliers in the fight against gang violence. He added that the committee highlighted that the challenges faced in the northern areas of Nelson Mandela Bay are similar to those in areas of the Cape Flats in Cape Town and Eldorado Park in Johannesburg.
“This requires urgent action and intervention. The approach adopted by SAPS is not showing signs of success and a change of course is necessary to ensure that we rid our streets of gangs and the associated violence they bring.
“The committee received a petition from Fokus Group, a group of former members and widows of SAPS members who have struggled to get compensation for occupational injuries sustained while on duty. The committee was disappointed by the weak and uncaring response from SAPS,” said Cameron.
He said it is unacceptable that although members have been injured on duty, the process is cumbersome and that the SAPS is seemingly unwilling to assist its members to apply and benefit from the Compensation Fund. Cameron said the committee is of the view that while the delays might be on the part of the Department of Labour, SAPS should be doing more to engage its sister department to expedite its processes.
“It is unacceptable that the SAPS have just passed the buck to the Department of Employment and Labour without accepting its administrative shortcomings and lack of adequate support. The committee considers it inhumane that a beneficiary has had to wait for over 30 years to access the benefits they are entitled to.
“Unfortunately, the responses given to the committee by SAPS leave much to be desired. The non-responses are unaware of the plight of former police officers who were injured on duty. The South African Police must do more to support its members in accessing benefits from the Compensation Fund,” he said.
Cameron said similarly, the committee is concerned that while the SAPS gave a glossy presentation, the realities on the ground are grim for members who are injured on duty. He said, for example, a member of the SAPS in the Western Cape who was paralysed while on duty has had to stop physiotherapy sessions due to SAPS’s non-payment for over 20 appointments.
“The committee is concerned that the bureaucratic mess leaves members of SAPS and their families vulnerable. For its part, the committee resolved that it will engage with the Portfolio Committee on Employment and Labour to plan a joint meeting, where the petition and general injury-on-duty claims will be the main area of focus,” said Cameron.
The Guardian 