MEDIA STATEMENT
Public Interest SA strongly condemns the brutal attack on community patrollers in the Marry Me informal settlement in Soshanguve, Gauteng, which resulted in the tragic loss of four lives and left eight others injured. The horrifying nature of this crime, coupled with the alarming delay in police response, raises serious concerns about the efficiency of law enforcement agencies in ensuring public safety and fostering trust within communities.
The delay between the reported time of the attack and the discovery of the victims by police suggests a critical lapse in law enforcement’s ability to promptly respond to criminal incidents. Such inefficiencies undermine community-based crime prevention efforts and erode public confidence in the South African Police Service (SAPS). Public Interest SA urges the SAPS to enhance coordination with community crime prevention groups, ensuring that law enforcement agencies proactively support and protect those who risk their lives to safeguard their neighbourhoods.
We call on the Minister of Police and the National Commissioner to urgently investigate this failure and implement measures that will prevent such incidents in the future. More must be done to ensure that criminals do not operate with impunity and that community patrollers receive the necessary protection and support.
CALLING FOR SWIFT AND THOROUGH INVESTIGATIONS IN CORRUPTION CASES
Meanwhile, we lament the persistent delays in high-profile corruption cases, including the Zandile Gumede matter and other cases linked to state capture. The drawn-out nature of these cases, often due to incomplete investigations at the time of arrests, not only undermines the integrity of the justice system but also places undue strain on the accused and the courts.
While we remain committed to the fight against corruption, it is imperative that law enforcement agencies and the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) ensure that cases are thoroughly investigated before charges are laid. Failure to do so risks cases being struck off the roll due to lack of readiness, which, in turn, diminishes public trust in the ability of the justice system to hold those implicated in corruption accountable.
Public Interest SA calls on the NPA and SAPS to expedite all outstanding investigations into corruption and state capture to ensure that justice is not only done but is seen to be done. The rule of law must be upheld, and accountability must not be compromised by procedural inefficiencies and delays.
“South Africa stands at a critical juncture where crime and corruption threaten the social fabric of our nation. We urge the government, law enforcement agencies, and judicial bodies to work with greater urgency, cohesiveness, and effectiveness in addressing these pressing issues. We stand in solidarity with affected families and communities and will continue to advocate for a just, transparent, and accountable criminal justice system,” laments Tebogo Khaas, founder and chairperson of Public Interest SA.
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