The following speech was delivered by GOOD MP Shaun August during the debate on Police in Parliament today.
20 May 2021
Honourable Chairperson
Our challenge as law-makers with oversight responsibilities is to see the theory we discuss translated into better lived experiences for our people.
It isn’t rocket science. In the context of policing, the better lived experience we seek relate to people’s safety.
Three events reported this week sound the alarm that we are missing the mark:
- The United Nations published a report stating that South Africa continues to fail victims of Gender Based Violence;
- Human rights groups accused police stations in Delft and Mitchell’s Plain of failing to open rape dockets when sexual assault crimes are reported to them;
- An alleged serial killer appeared before the High Court, sitting in Swellendam, charged with the murders of five women and a man in various country towns over a period of several years. Community protestors outside court said the safety of people of colour didn’t appear to be a priority.
Our people crave safety in their homes and on the streets – and incorruptible police. To them, it’s made no difference how police budgets have been allocated over the past year or 10 – because they haven’t experienced any difference in their lives.
Will our budgetary discussions make a difference today?
Honourable Chairperson…
While solid budgetary processes are the foundations for clean governance, and it is important to know how many pens and toilet rolls are required to service all our police stations, how will this spending lead to safer environments?
What can we do better with this money, starting immediately, to prioritise safety and security – while at the same time sending a loud and clear message to perpetrators that when they cross the line they are going to get caught?
Where do we begin to incrementally restore communities’ faith in our police men and women, and their systems?
How do we begin to re-imagine police stations as supportive havens where every customer is guaranteed professionalism, courtesy, compassion and dignity?
How will what we discuss here impact the next quarter’s crime statistics, when we know that past budgetary discussions have simply led to the same old, same old…?
Murder rates, sexual violence, gangsterism, illegal fire arms, drug abuse and theft… the numbers don’t ever seem to significantly change.
Perpetrators run rampant knowing they won’t get caught or, if they are, shoddy investigations give them a good chance of outfoxing prosecutors.
Honourable members…
We need to revamp our entire approach to policing and invest in crime prevention and community safety.
On the ground, our people should get the same quality of service from police irrespective of they live in Manenberg, Orlando West or Sandton – regardless of race, creed, sexual orientation or economic status.
At policy level, the GOOD Party urges legislators to view the links between justice and crime with fresh eyes. For as long as we delay the march towards achieving social, economic, environmental and spatial justice, we will continue to suffer the pain.
Changing hostile and threatening environments into safe spaces is not solely the responsibility of police. It is also the responsibility of the education system, social development, correctional services – besides all who serve the criminal justice system.
While the SAPS take the lead in demonstrating the consequences of crime, GOOD people across communities and professions must be supported to take charge of their lives and those of their families and neighbours.
I thank you.