Deputy President Paul Mashatile said on Thursday that the Madlanga Commission and the parliamentary inquiry probing allegations made by KwaZulu-Natal police commissioner Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi, will shed more light on what needed to be done to strengthen the criminal justice system as a whole.

Responding to oral questions in the National Assembly, Mashatile refrained from commenting about the commission and parliamentary inquiry, but said they we will continue to strengthen the Crime Intelligence division to counter organised crime against terrorism and violent criminality in hotspot areas through structural and technological interventions.

Mashatile said some of the revelations emerging from the Madlanga Commission revealed exactly how much was needed to do to clean up policing.

“It is important that we, as Cabinet, should ensure that the leadership of the police and other structures of our security cluster are able to utilise the resources that we have to ensure the effective way of fighting crime,” he said.

He was responding to a follow-up question from MK Party MP Lucky Montana, who noted that several crime intelligence officers have been implicated in aiding syndicates in violent crime, extortion rackets and gang-related killings.

“Will you concede that what we have here is not a failure of resources, but the failure of leadership, political will and accountability within the very Crime Intelligence that you need?” asked Montana.

Mashatile said there was an indication now that there are varying weaknesses within the police, especially with people who should not be in leadership positions.

“So it’s going to be up to us as government to move with speed, once these things are finalised, to ensure that we put the right people in place and monitor what they do, so that we don’t find that after five years, that we have had the wrong people here.”

He also said the issue of leadership was critical in the SAPS.

“I’m convinced that a lot of cleaning up will have to be made to ensure that we can put these units into proper locations to do proper work and ensure that they are not infested by the wrong people,” he said.

Earlier, Mashatile was asked by DA chief whip George Michalakis whether he has found that the interventions to bolster crime intelligence in the police to stem gangsterism and other forms of violent crimes, have been effective.

Mashatile said under the Justice, Crime Prevention and Security (JCPS) cluster, several measures have been introduced to restore the integrity and performance of SAPS’ Crime intelligence.

“The SAPS has developed what we call the National Anti-Gang Strategy aimed at dismantling gang related criminal networks through intelligence gathering, proactive policing, community engagement and stakeholder collaboration.”

The Deputy President also said the SAPS was further extending the scope of the anti-gang units to include gang-related cases such as drug trafficking shootings.

“We are looking at this beyond just the Western Cape, but also now looking at the Eastern Cape and Gauteng. The units will also be supported by operations like Operation Shanela and Operation Vala Umgodi in the Free State, where you have mines.”

Mashatile said Acting Police Minister, Professor Firoz Cachalia, has announced a multi anti-gang plan in the Western Cape, already involving the National Prosecuting Authority, Asset Forfeiture Unit, Special investigating Unit and SAPS.

“This is to ensure that we combat gangsterism and extortion. This plan has already been finalised with funding allocated for implementation.

“Furthermore, SAPS has increased what we call digital analytics, surveillance and data-driven policing resources to enhance intelligence-led operations, particularly in hotspot areas.”

Responding to a question by ANC MP Oscar Matafa, Mashatile said that fighting against gangsterism needed collaboration and the whole of government approach.

“It’s not just a policing matter because we also live in a situation with high levels of unemployment. We need to ensure that we grow our economy, train young people.

“They must have access to markets, to employment so it’s a strategy that must be all encompassing to ensure that we deal with economic issues, social issues, violence, and look at how people live in communities as social conditions also give rise to crime and violence.”

mayibongwe.maqhina@inl.co.za

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