Statement by Brett Herron
GOOD Secretary General
14 July 2021
STATE MUST USE CRIMINAL MATTERS AMENDMENT ACT AGAINST SABOTEURS OF INFRASTRUCTURE AND ECONOMY
According to Minister of Police Bheki Cele, the identities of the hidden hands responsible for instigating the wave of destruction in KwaZulu-Natal and Gauteng are known to those responsible for the country’s peace and security. This is good news. It would be even better to hear that they have been arrested.
If these suspects were arrested it would reassure citizens that the country still has a modicum of intelligence capacity.
When they are arrested, the NPA should consider charging them under the 2015 Criminal Matters Amendment Act that has seldom been used but seems ideally provisioned for times such as these.
The intention of the Act is to deter the destruction of essential infrastructure citizens rely on for basic services, and sanction those who do. The context for the legislation’s enactment was the increasing destruction of essential infrastructure by organised criminal acts. It explicitly recognises that such offences negatively impact “South Africa’s economy and society” and “peace and stability in the country”.
The extent to which the current criminality has been coordinated and orchestrated is under investigation. It is reported that a former State Security Agency official is among at least 10 individuals under investigation for instigating this violence to destabilise the state.
The criminality these individuals are said to have authored have attacked the stability of our food supply, essential health infrastructure, transport infrastructure, and broad economy. During a pandemic, targeting medical practises and the country’s largest supplier of oxygen can also be regarded as attacking essential infrastructure.
The Criminal Matters Amendment Act provides for stiff sentencing of up to 30 years in prison for those convicted.
The NPA must be seen to be functioning without political interference. It is critical for South Africans confidence in the State to see the wheels of justice turning swiftly.
The GOOD Party salutes the patriotic South Africans who have risen to the fore, in public interest, to bolster law enforcement agencies and protect businesses and property. These community-spirited individuals include members of the mini-bus taxi industry, neighbourhood watches and community-based organisations.
GOOD welcomes the announcement of the arrests that have been made.
Ends…