Cape Town - A “green card” identity system for workers in Worcester, which some have called a modern-day dompas, has sparked a blame game.
The Worcester Community Policing Forum has strongly condemned the Green Card Referencing Project and denied involvement in it. Instead, it pointed a finger at one of the CPF sector forums in the area.
CPF chairman Guido Opperman said there was a communication breakdown among the sectors, which comprised the Worcester CPF.
“The CPF executive committee was not duly informed of the Green Card Reference Project or of its intended implementation by the responsible Sector Forum.”
The green card, dubbed the modern “dompas”, was allegedly introduced last June by the Sector Four Forum after noticing a spike in housebreakings, hijackings and malicious damage to property.
Sector Four is a subsector of the CPF and is made up of 10 upper-class neighbourhoods in Worcester including Panorama, Fairy Glen and Somerset Park.
Opperman said the sector failed to inform the CPF of its ideas to implement the project.
“These are areas where you find bigger properties which seem more lucrative for criminals.”
Local workers such as gardeners seeking employment in this area have to apply for the card to get employment.
The cards bear a photograph and personal details of its holder.
Catherine Jacobs, a member of the Sector Four forum, declined to comment given the media coverage of the issue, but did say: “Our hearts were in the right place… it was a good thing to start.”
On Tuesday, Western Cape Community Safety MEC Dan Plato said police needed to account for why the project was implemented.
“To make it clear, this project is not a Department of Community Safety sanctioned initiative.
“The police need to answer whether it is a programme initiated by them or why the system has been endorsed by the local sector commander.”
Plato said in a meeting he had with Western Cape police commissioner, Arno Lamoer, on Monday, the commissioner promised to delegate a senior police official to conduct the investigation.
“The constitution enshrines everyone’s right to freedom of movement. This right cannot be restricted through unlawful access control to different suburbs or areas and the police must put an immediate stop to this.”
The DA also welcomed Plato’s call to pressure Lamoer on the investigation.
Marius Redelinghuys, the DA’s national spokesman, said: “The issuing of these green cards by SAPS has all the hallmarks of the apartheid-era dompas system.”
He said the DA supports the call by the department for Lamoer to put an immediate stop to the green card project. He said Lamoer should also conduct a full investigation into the conduct of the local police and CPF in Worcester.
Provincial police spokesman Lieutenant-Colonel Andrè Traut said the matter pertaining to the “so-called green card system” in Worcester was under investigation.
Here’s what parties had to say:
GUIDO OPPERMAN, WORCESTER COMMUNITY POLICE FORUM CHAIRPERSON
The CPF insists on being transparent and has alerted the Human Rights Commission to consider an urgent investigation into the allegations of a “dompas” system in Worcester.
Worcester and the Breede Valley are known for wonderful examples of reconciliation, forgiveness, restitution and peace.
It is the unapologetic belief of the Worcester CPF Executive Committee that Worcesterians would once again collectively learn from such an experience and willingly bridge any historical or other divide.
DAN PLATO, WESTERN CAPE COMMUNITY SAFETY MEC
I discussed the issue with Provincial Commissioner, Lieutenant General Arno Lamoer, who has assured me that he:
* Will designate a senior SAPS management official to fully investigate; and
* Will provide a full report to me as soon as the investigation is concluded.
The Constitution enshrines everyone’s right to freedom of movement.
This right cannot be restricted through unlawful access control to different suburbs or areas and the SAPS must put an immediate stop to this.
To make it clear, this project is not a Department of Community Safety sanctioned initiative.
HELEN ZILLE, DA LEADER
The DA welcomes the Department of Community Safety’s move to pressure Police Commissioner Arno Lamoer to act on a SAPS project to issue “green cards” to employees and job-seekers in Worcester.
The issuing of these cards by SAPS has all the hallmarks of the apartheid-era dompas system.
The DA condemns the green card practice... as it is in direct contravention of the Constitution, which ensures and protects citizens’ right to the freedom of movement.
ZIZI KODWA, ANC NATIONAL SPOKESMAN
The dompas sought to ensure that the movement of black people was limited and that certain areas were to be protected as the sole reserves of white South Africans.
This is exactly what is happening in the suburb of Worcester where gardeners are forced to carry the dreaded green pass in order to gain access to employment and opportunity.
The facade created of the cards being used as a “security system” is a reincarnation of the swart gevaar.
It is obvious that it is only black men looking for jobs who must carry the card and nobody else in the neighbourhood – sending a clear message that blacks are dangerous and not to be trusted unless vetted by the white man.
Despite their loud denials, proof is presented that where the DA governs every effort will be made to return us to apartheid.