Crime-fighting institutions in chaos while crime rates soar

Head of the Governance, Crime and Justice Division at ISS, Gareth Newham, says there has been over 18 000 more armed attacks in South Africa because leaders of crime-fighting institutions are fighting each other.

 

"We have four more murders per day on average compared to last year. The reason is policing organisations are in crisis. Rather than having strong leadership focused on these crimes, they are fighting each other," he points out.

 

Police minister Nkosinathi Nhleko on Tuesday suspended Ipid head Robert McBride, just six days after he went to court to challenge his imminent suspension.

 

Nhleko is accusing McBride for allegedly tampering with reports that allegedly implicate suspended Hawks boss Anwa Dramat and Gauteng Hawks boss Shadrack Sibiya.

 

The Pretoria High Court ruled on Monday that Sibiya must return to work with immediate effect and also said acting national head Berning Ntlemeza is biased, lacks integrity and lied under oath.

 

Newham says the repeated unlawful actions by Nhleko in suspending the heads of the Hawks without any evidence, shows that his actions are politically motivated.

 

"Three months after Dramat was suspended, and there is no evidence of his wrongdoing. He has not been criminally charged. Nhleko has also suspended people who are good at their jobs and replaced them with someone who has been found to be dishonest. This shows it is political."

 

Meanwhile, the NPA is looking for its deputy national director, advocate Nomgcobo Jiba, after she was served with a court summons relating to two counts of fraud and one count of perjury.

 

Last year the Durban High Court found Jiba's decision to prosecute KwaZulu Natal Hawks head Johan Booysen unconstitutional and invalid.

 

Newham says President Jacob Zuma plays a fundamental role in appointments at these institutions.

 

"The President has influence in who is appointed to head the NPA and its deputy and he has to ensure that only the best men and women head these institutions. Right now he has done the opposite, which is why we have this crisis and these institutions are unable to carry out their mandate."

 

 

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(Edited by Laila Majiet)