DA questions ‘lack’ of police visibility in Gauteng
This stems from the robbery and shootout at a Makro in Centurion on Wednesday.
The DA in Gauteng has raised concerns that there is not a large enough police presence in Gauteng during the lockdown.
This is according to Michael Shackleton, DA Gauteng spokesperson on community safety after a shootout and robbery took place at Makro in Centurion.
The robbery took place on Wednesday evening. Security guards were held at gunpoint.
“This raises concerns that there is not a large enough police presence during the national lockdown which was implemented to curb the spread of the Covid-19.
“During this time the police and army are supposed to ensure no one breaks the lockdown regulations. If there is an increase in crime, especially at businesses, it means the law enforcement agencies are failing to enforce the lockdown regulations,” he said.
Shackleton said it is high time that there are more police and army visibility especially at the big supermarkets and malls where there is a high risk of looting and robberies.
He said they have also seen numerous reports across the country where residents, who were going out to buy essential groceries and chronic medication, have been harassed and even fined for breaking the lockdown regulations.
“The DA will be tabling further questions to the Gauteng MEC for Community Safety, Faith Mazibuko, to find out exactly how many business robberies have taken place during the lockdown.”
He urged residents to be vigilant during this time so that they do not fall prey to criminals.
Police Minister Bheki Cele on Wednesday said the SAPS, with the SANDF, Provincial Traffic, Metro Police, and other law enforcement agencies, have done fairly well in terms of enforcing the regulations.
“I have extended a word of appreciation to all the members on deployment during this lockdown, for their unwavering commitment and resilience in support of government’s efforts to combat the Covid-19 global pandemic.”
Cele said due to the lockdown, the heightened visibility, reinforced by the deployment of the SANDF and other variables such as the prohibition of the sale of liquor, police have seen a significant drop across most crime categories.
“We will, at an appropriate time after the lockdown, give a comprehensive crime picture as we are yet to table the 2019/2020 crime statistics to parliament. At this stage we have compared crime for the period 27 March 2020 to 20 April 2020, to the same period in 2019, and we welcome the decrease in especially contact crime and trio crimes – both crime categories that are known to instil fear and terror amongst our citizens.”
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