DA MP reacts to reader’s letter about accountability

MICHAEL WATERS MP writes:

I write in connection with a letter written by Mr Mandla Radebe (“Thanks, Mr Waters, but we need accountability“), Express May 19.

He raises a few questions to which I would like to reply.

The indignity of having to report any crime, let alone one as serious as domestic violence and rape, in front of other people is an indignity that no person should have to endure. Hence the urgent need for new premises for Norkem Park Police Station.

As far as the visible policing petition is concerned, Mr Radebe is correct in saying that we had a petition calling for additional visible policing for Birch Acres. We did hand the petition into parliament and we reported back through a press release.

As the original petition only pertained to a specific suburb within the Norkem Park police precinct (Mr Radebe’s suburb of Norkem Park was not included for example), we thought we should have a petition that covers the entire precinct, hence the additional call for residents to sign our petition.

In addition, we have also initiated petitions for visible policing for both the Kempton Park and Sebenza Police Stations, which cover the remaining suburbs of Kempton Park.

We intend to attach the additional Norkem Park precinct signatures to the current petition, as well as the signatures received for the Kempton Park and Sebenza petition and submit it to Parliament.

As far as a DA public representative attending the Mayoral Imbizo and the Gauteng Premier’s Ntirisano community engagement are concerned, while they may not be advertised as official ANC meetings, we all know they are used as ANC meetings while using taxpayer and ratepayer money.

Neither the mayor nor the premier have any authority whatsoever over the police with regard to additional staff and new police stations, so attending these specific meetings would be pointless in this regard.

The proper arena to raise issues around the police is, indeed, in Parliament and that is exactly what I am doing and will continue to do.

As far as me “instructing” councillors to report back is concerned, there is no need for me to do such a thing. DA councillors are often in the Express, reporting back on issues they are addressing.

They have regular information tables where the public interacts with them and yes, we do have public meetings from time to time. While none of us are perfect and there is always room for improvement, I can say in all honesty that DA public representatives (both councillors and MPs) are more accountable to the residents of Kempton Park than any other party.

Lastly, as far as “needing accountability” is concerned, I agree we do need accountability from all politicians, including the governing party, the ANC. I will continue to ask questions in parliament that affect the residents of Kempton Park in relation to crime, such as police manpower, number of vehicles, firmness of police officers and testing of shooting competency.