Police Minister not serious, says DA

Independent Newspapers

Police Minister Nathi Mthethwa. File photo: Sizwe Ndingane

Parliament, Cape Town - The police minister does not take the latest crisis in the SA Police Service seriously as he was not in the National Assembly on Wednesday to reply to questions, the DA said.

“This at a time when South Africa is reeling from horrific reports of police brutality and an unchecked wave of sexual assault against women and children,” Democratic Alliance spokeswoman Dianne Kohler-Barnard said in a statement.

Police Minister Nathi Mthethwa is on honeymoon until March 12.

Kohler-Barnard said he was “conveniently missing questions to the minister by six days”.

His deputy Maggie Sotyu was on “an expensive trip to New York” with Women, Children, and People with Disabilities Minister Lulu Xingwana.

Kohler-Barnard said the Democratic Alliance would take the matter up with National Assembly Speaker Max Sisulu and the leader of government business, Deputy President Kgalema Motlanthe.

“There is no excuse for this. Questions days are scheduled well in advance, and the minister or his deputy should have made a plan to attend.”

This was the clearest indication yet that they had completely misplaced priorities. The SAPS was without leadership at a time when the public was losing faith in its ability to protect them.

“In any other country experiencing such a crisis, the minister of police would be back at home and in the House answering questions. Minister Mthethwa has once again lived up to his title as an empty suit,” Kohler-Barnard said. - Sapa