Some faith-based groups in the province are calling for the return of the Amaberet to help fight crime. Amaberet is the SAPS’s tactical response team TRT, vastly known for its no-nonsense approach when fighting crime.
This unit, which had been established in 2009 to meet the medium- to high-security risk needs of stations and clusters, was hailed for its crime-busting prowess, but in the process the unit received a lot of public scrutiny and lawsuits. This prompted the police ministry to rethink its strategy and use of this unit.
During the ministerial stakeholder engagement with the religious sector, spearheaded by the national police minister, Bheki Cele, the national police commissioner, Lieutenant General Fannie Masemola, and provincial police commissioner, Lieutenant General Semakaleng Manamela, at Emnotweni Arena on Monday April 29, the Christian fraternity called for the return of this feared unit.
“There was a time when the police ministry introduced the team of the Amaberets. It was only for a few months, but they recorded victories and huge results. Crime really went down. I do know that we have so many rights in the country, but I believe that as a nation we need to agree that it is time for all of us to accept the truth that will help us build this country. We need to come up with interventions that will meet our South African context. We cannot Americanise our community; we need to respond in a way that is going to talk to our problems and issues,” said Pr Sipho Magagula.
ALSO READ: SAPS warns of criminals robbing from vehicles in Mbombela
This ministerial session comes at a time when crime is at an all-time high, with gender-based violence-related incidents seemingly getting out of control.
The scourge of gender-based violence in the country has led to the state president, Cyril Ramaphosa, declaring it a pandemic.
In this province alone, 770 women were raped in a space of just three months, and of this number, a total of 361 were raped in their own homes, meaning they were raped by people they know and trust.
These alarming numbers prompted Cele to say South Africa is a mad nation.
“The men in South Africa are not just criminals, but are mentally sick. How do you wake up in the middle of the night as a man and decide to rape your own child or stab your own wife 72 times? It is only madness that can drive any human being to behave in such a manner,” said Cele when addressing the session.
He said the country’s police have in a period of 10 months arrested half a million people. He argued that the country will soon become a prison state.
ALSO READ: KaNyamazane teacher accused of raping learner
He also urged church leaders to consider creating gender-based violence centres in their churches where ordinary members of the community may seek sanctuary, especially when they are attacked at night.
He, however, did not commit to answer whether the Amaberet unit would be brought back in full force.
