The media statement issued earlier today by the DA’s Dianne Kohler Barnard saying the Minister of Police, Nathi Mthethwa and his Deputy, Ms Makhotso Sotyu do not take their jobs seriously, is attention-seeking and we want to dismiss it as such.
Kohler Barnard misleads the public and gives an impression that the Minister is absent without official leave (AWOL) and that the Deputy Minister’s trip to attend is unofficial.  For the record, the Minister’s leave is official and does not represent any dereliction of his duties.  The Deputy Minister is also on an official work engagement.

The fight against crime is not a one-man or one-woman show, we work as a collective.  As members of the SAPS, we all bring different yet complimentary expertise in the fight against crime.  Government’s crime statistics, supported by various independent industry statistics indicate a downward trend in most crime categories. Such successes were not achieved by the Minister and his Deputy but a collective.  Even globally, there is no empirical evidence that says one individual has reduced crime, hence we affirm to a philosophy that says: together, we can do more.

The Acting Police Minister, Dr Siyabonga Cwele is answering questions in Parliament today, because that task forms part of his responsibilities – responsibilities which he is familiar with, both in his acting capacity as well as Minister of State Security.  There is nothing sinister about this.  For the record, government’s programmes in fighting crime are coordinated at the Justice, Crime, Prevention and Security cluster level. Minister Cwele forms part of this cluster as such he is acutely conversant with government’s overall crime fighting strategy.

Some of the issues raised by Kohler Barnard which she termed “crisis” we view such statements as sensational and generalizing. In relation to police brutality, what is important is to ensure that we act against any allegation of police brutality no matter who is involved.  For the DA to paint a misleading depiction as though all 200 000 plus SAPS members are brutal, is tarnishing and unfair to some of the hardworking police.  Almost on a daily basis, police officers face some of the heartless criminals who would not hesitate to kill or harm them.  These are the real heroes, not people who are always negatively critiquing even the good work that is done by our officers. 

With a staff compliment in excess of 200 000 personnel, on any given day, if three or eight of them are alleged to be involved in criminal acts and brutality, we would still remain extremely worried.  For this reason we have over the past year, strengthened and capacitated the Independent Police Investigative Directorate (IPID) to ensure that it becomes an effective body that would put punitive measures against any such police officers. 

We therefore urge all in society, particularly the DA, to observe and afford the IPID to conclude its investigations and that those who are found to have violated any human rights of any person, that they are accordingly punished through the criminal justice system.

For enquiries, please contact:

Zweli Mnisi, Spokesperson to the Minister of Police 082 045 4024
NATIONAL MEDIA CENTRE
Corporate Communication
South African Police Service
Office:+27 12-4006579 /6629 /6576
Fax: +27 12 - 400 7018