SAPS suspensions – Stability on Ground needed for Safety Service Delivery

Statement by Dan Plato, Western Cape Minister of Community Safety

The suspension of National Police Commissioner, Riah Phiyega, must not have a destabilising impact on policing on the ground.

Phiyega’s suspension, coupled with the suspension of Western Cape Police Commissioner, Arno Lamoer, and several senior SAPS officers in this province, means that stability is needed especially in the Western Cape.

I have confidence in Acting Provincial Commissioner, Major General Thembisile Patekile, and the men and women in blue serving our communities. I call on the National SAPS management to assure both the South African Police Service (SAPS) officers on the ground and our communities that safety service delivery in the province will not be adversely affected while the top cops are not in office.

Phiyega’s suspension also means that the decision on Lamoer’s successor might need to wait well after his contract runs out at the end of November.

With crime on the increase according to the latest statistics, our top cops suspended and uncertainty in people’s minds on the impact these developments have on safety, I urge our National SAPS management to provide the assurance that safety service delivery will not be negatively affected.

I trust that President Zuma, Police Minister Nhleko and the rest of the SAPS management will carefully consider any appointments going forward as their decisions have a direct impact on the level of safety experienced by those continuously confronted with the scourge of crime.

We all need to know that those in charge of our safety, nationally and provincially, are beyond reproach and have the safety of every resident in this country as their only agenda.