MEC Fritz pleased with progress made in IPID’s investigation | Western Cape Government

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MEC Fritz pleased with progress made in IPID’s investigation

18 March 2021
 
The Minister of Community Safety, Albert Fritz, has received an update from the office of the Western Cape’s arm of the Independent Police Investigative Directorate (IPID) noting that their investigation into the deployment of a SAPS POPs unit to the SASSA Bellville office is nearly complete. The Provincial office has advised that the report will be completed by the end of March 2021.
 
Minister Fritz welcomes the response received from IPID noting on their investigation into the heinous actions of the SAPS POPs deployment on 15 January 2021. The deployment resulted in the use of a water cannon against vulnerable grant recipients. This coincided with the visit of the Minister of Social Development, Lindiwe Zulu.
 
On 11 February, Minister Fritz wrote to the regional head of IPID requesting their investigation into the SAPS POPs deployment to SASSA Bellville office. IPID then confirmed that they will investigate the matter.
 
Minister Fritz said, “I welcome the progress made on IPID’s investigation into this matter. Where SAPS are seen to not be acting in the interests of the safety of residents they must be held to account. It is essential that those responsible for these cruel actions against the most vulnerable in our society be identified and not be protected through redacted reports, such as the version I received from the Acting Provincial Commissioner, General Manci, on 28 January 2021. The response failed to answer the substantive elements of my enquiry.”
 
Minister Fritz requested that IPID investigate and provide clarity on: 
 
Who requested the deployment of SAPS’ POPs unit;
Which resources were mobilised; and
Why it was necessary to deploy the resources used, including a water cannon, at a Ministerial oversight visit.
 
In terms of Section 21 of the IPID Act (Act 1 of 2011), “(1) A provincial head is responsible for the following: … (j)to report to the relevant MEC on matters referred to the Provincial Head by that MEC”. Section 28(1)(h) of the IPID Act furthermore prescribes that the Directorate must investigate any matter referred to them by a MEC.
 
Minister Fritz added, “I have previously expressed my unconditional concern about the unacceptable behaviour of the police towards SASSA beneficiaries, and I am determined to use all my powers of oversight to get to the bottom of the circumstances that resulted in such a decision being made and implemented by SAPS. It is further unclear to me why SASSA had not implemented the relevant measures to maintain social distancing and to prevent such long queues outside their Bellville office.” 
 
Minister Fritz concluded, “I am deeply concerned by the way in which SAPS responded to the incident, how the order was given and by whom. These hostile actions undermined the dignity of the many vulnerable people who were standing in the line. It is unacceptable that residents should suffer the double insult of having to wait long periods for basic service delivery and still be treated poorly by SAPS.”
 
                                                                                                                                    
Media Enquiries: 

 

Cayla Ann Tomás Murray
Spokesperson for Minister Albert Fritz
Tel: 021 483 9217
Cell: 064 121 7959
Email: Cayla.murray@westerncape.gov.za