GOOD Press Statement by Jonathan Cupido
GOOD City of Cape Town Councillor
31 January 2024
GOOD is saddened and outraged by the fatal shooting of an innocent 12-year-old at a school in Mitchell’s Plain.
It’s understood the girl was caught in a crossfire while waiting for scholar transport when rival gangs started to shoot in the community of Beacon Valley.
Our children deserve the opportunity to learn and attend school in a safe and enabling environment. Yet, our parents cannot even send their children to school without fearing for their safety.
The war against crime is clearly a war that those in charge are losing. The justice system and law enforcement agencies have failed our communities, while our political leaders continue to react when it’s too late.
Dealing with crime does not simply mean more police visibility and resources. We need to address the root of the problem by investing in adequate social services, and focus on the development and upliftment of our communities.
Always blaming budget cuts and scarce resources when it comes to crime and its prevention is no longer acceptable. Nor is throwing money at our current policing system in consistently poor attempts to fix symptoms, instead of contributing to the noticeable prevention of crime.
Mitchell’s Plain is one of the hotspots where the LEAP officers are supposedly successfully reducing crime. GOOD maintains this is one of the many ineffective initiatives being used to paint a false picture that the City and the DA are addressing the problem of crime.
As GOOD, we call for improved professional policing which needs to work alongside effective social services and development. We further believe that communities must also be involved and included in these efforts.
The lived experience and understanding of community members can significantly contribute to the preventive programs as part of fighting crime. Neighborhood watches and community policing forums have a crucial role to play.
GOOD expresses our deepest sympathies to the family and loved ones of the young victim and calls on the SAPS, and the justice system, to prioritise this case and ensure that the culprits are caught and brought to the book.
Media Enquiries:
Jonathan Cupido, GOOD City of Cape Town Councillor
Cell: 084 865 8122
Email: jonathanc@forgood.org.za
Janke Tolmay, GOOD Media Manager
Cell: 073 367 1223
Email: janke@forgood.org.za