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"Can police still protect the community?"- DA

Date: 19 September 2003 By: 

LEVUBU - The news of yet another farm attack in the small farming community of Levubu on Sunday once again gave rise to questions as to what exactly the South African Police Service is doing to try and contain the rocketing crime rate. Two masked armed men overpowered and held up the De Wilde family at their home during the early hours of Sunday morning. Seven weapons, a large sum of money, four cell phones and the family's car were stolen in the incident. Provincial leader of the Democratic Alliance, Mr Michael Holford, expressed his concern over what the true motives are behind these attacks. He said it seemed to be a well-planned attack, executed with military precision. "Is this more than just criminality?" Mr Holford asked.

Mr Holford openly questioned whether some members of the SAPS might not be involved in farm attacks and if they are not directly involved, whether certain members of the SAPS are not deliberately turning a blind eye to these crimes? "It came to the attention of the DA that during August 2003, Mr De Wilde wrote a letter of complaint to the MEC of Safety and Security. The DA would like to receive a written assurance from the MEC that the letter, in no way, played any role in the farm attack and subsequent burglary of his shop the past week. The DA demands that the MEC openly state and prove what had happened to the letter of the complaint and what procedures had been followed to follow up the complaint," Mr Holford stated.

Mr Holford expressed his concern that it seems as if there might be a well-organized and well-planned strategy against the farming community, and specifically against white commercial farmers. He said that the unwillingness of the Minister of Safety and Security to even admit that there is a problem, might indicate that there is more to this than meets the eye.

Mr Takie Makananisa from the New National Party's offices in Polokwane, echoed Mr Holfords sentiment, describing the attack as a barbaric and cowardly act. Mr Makananisa called upon the MEC of Safety and Security to beef up security in the area.

At a local level, Cllr Marie Helm from the DA said that the Levubu SAPS couldn't say that they were not aware of the possibility of farm attacks. She said the DA is very concerned that actions and complaints from the community are being plainly ignored by the SAPS. She said that the question could be asked whether the SAPS in Levubu can actually protect the community.

 
 
 

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