ANC MP Faiez Jacobs has lashed out at Western Cape Community Safety MEC Albert Fritz for not ensuring community safety following a spate of gang killings in Mitchells Plain.
Jacobs released a statement on Tuesday calling out Fritz for having “the audacity to point fingers” in the wake of the violence in Mitchell’s Plain which claimed the lives of 10 people.
Fritz visited the Mitchells Plain police station on Monday, following a bloody weekend with more than 10 people shot and six killed. Fritz also visited the families of those affected.
The MP said that the DA agenda of preserving white privilege has taken precedence over fighting crime and ensuring community safety.
“Organised crime in the City of Cape Town and the Western Cape is a lucrative market and Fritz and his cronies in the DA have done little to uproot it.
“Fritz glibly opines that we need to deal with the root causes of gang violence without addressing what it is they have done, nor what they are going to do about the gross inequality, poverty, and unemployment that fuels violence.”
He called on Fritz to stop electioneering by devastated families and communities reeling under the burden of unbridled violent crime.
“Lets put party politics aside and get real with our communities; offering real and sustainable solutions that emerge out of sustained engagement with communities, community policy forums, Sanco, and other organs of civil society.”
Jacobs added: “You spent huge sums of money on a gunshot detector in Hanover Park and what is the result? You should be charged for fruitless expenditure and you must go to the community of Hanover Park and explain to them how this has helped reduce the fears of pupils dodging bullets in class, getting caught in crossfire on your way to work or being robbed of your meagre Sassa payment.”
He called on the MEC to do his job and through collective efforts strengthen community policing forums and engage neighbourhood watches.
“We must bring back the street committees and reclaim the space for our children to play and for our youth to explore alternatives to gangsterism, drugs, and criminality.
“We are tired of the games you play at the expense of our communities and the valuable lives of our youth.“
The MEC declined to comment on Jacobs’ remarks, and instead redirected focus to his statement from Monday which outlines the efforts that the department is undertaking provincially.
“I have committed to assist those affected families with information and support where needed,” Fritz said.
“The Department of Community Safety will be expediting the roll-out of additional law enforcement and violence prevention efforts through the establishment of Area Based Teams (ABT) in communities most affected by violent crime.
“Mitchells Plain will be included in the second phase of ABT roll-outs and will temporarily have a deployment of LEAP law enforcement officers, which we hope to make permanent.”
-Cape Argus
In other news – 6 things you need to know about Boity’s alleged new Boyfriend
Anton David Jeftha has been a trending topic since yesterday after a fan alleged that he is our fave Boity’s new man. The fan DM’d thepopcornroom a screenshot on IG claiming that the two were spotted together looking very cosy.
Anton currently stars as Sebastian Price on Mnet’s new hit telenovela Legacy SA. Anton was born in the mother city in Belhar in the Cape Flats. Learn More
The post ANC’s Faiez Jacobs lashes out at MEC Albert Fritz over Mitchells Plain shootings appeared first on News365.co.za.
Post a Comment