Couldn’t we just say that appointing a Western Cape police ombudsman is a good idea no matter where the idea emanates from? asks Judith February.
When the Western Cape government recently confirmed the appointment of advocate Vusi Pikoli as the police ombudsman for the Western Cape, there was a flurry of opposition from the ANC. ANC MPL Pat Lekker said “the appointment is nothing but a sycophantic reward for the services rendered in the Khayelitsha Commission of Inquiry”. Pikoli, together with former Constitutional Court Justice Kate O’Regan, jointly headed the commission which focused on police ineffectiveness in Khayelitsha. It seemed a rather small-minded response from Lekker.
The position of police ombudsman is the first of its kind in South Africa and was created in terms of the Western Cape’s own Community Safety Act, which came into effect last year.
The ANC has accused the Western Cape government of trying to usurp the national government’s policing powers, specifically those of the Independent Police Investigative Directorate (Ipid). Also, that the proper processes were not followed. The act allows for the premier to make a discretionary appointment.
It is probably worth remembering that former police minister Nathi Mthethwa fought tooth and nail to prevent the Khayelitsha Commission of Inquiry, even though it was abundantly clear that social activists in Khayelitsha were pushing for its establishment.
After the commission released its findings, GroundUp writer Ayanda Nyoka wrote: “The Khayelitsha report details a number of key findings, ranging from historical legacies of violent crime, poverty, the harmful effects of illegal shebeens and an overburdened police force, to a complete breakdown of trust between the police and the community.”
A police ombudsman is the start in trying to hear what communities experience, then trying to act on that so that the commission’s recommendations don’t simply gather dust.
Recently the head of Ipid, Robert McBride, appeared before Parliament and battled to answer even the most basic questions regarding provincial appointments.
He inspired very little confidence. If that is the best the ANC can do regarding policing, perhaps more provinces should be appointing police ombudsmen?
The recent shooting of Bafana Bafana captain Senzo Meyiwa showed again how far we are from dealing with the challenges of a violent society.
Violence has been a part of the language of this country almost since day one.
Add to this the post-apartheid struggle to deal with joblessness and rising levels of inequality and our socio-economic environment becomes a toxic mix of hopelessness. The poor bear a disproportionate burden of random violence.
It was Mamphela Ramphele who spoke about our “social pain” and our need to recognise the deep collective anger which drives (mostly) young, black men, marginalised and excluded from the mainstream, to turn to crime. There are, however, short-term solutions such as proper policing methods, more crime intelligence and better training for police as well as rooting out corruption in the police force, which might contain matters somewhat.
Yet, we have seen the police crime intelligence being captured by political interests in the Richard Mdluli matter and intelligence gathered to fight narrow party political battles instead of being used to garner information about true criminal activity.
In addition, national commissioner of police General Riah Phiyega remains in her job despite her disastrous tenure.
We therefore can have little faith in the national leadership to be effective. So, for the provincial ANC to take such a narrow-minded position is again putting party interests above the interests of the citizenry.
It might also be that the animus directed at Pikoli has something to do with his former position as head of the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA). Lest we forget, he wanted to forge ahead with corruption charges against Jacob Zuma. Pikoli ultimately lost his job and the NPA has since then become embroiled in an unhealthy bout of political infighting.
Of course, Pikoli will need staff and resources and also to set the proper precedents early on. What the Khayelitsha Commission showed was that the poor bear the brunt of weak policing and communities are living as fearful hostages to crime.
Perhaps for once, we can transcend petty politicking and just say that appointing a police ombudsman in the Western Cape is a good idea no matter where the idea emanates from?
* Judith February is a senior research associate at the Institute for Security Studies.
** The views expressed here are not necessarily those of Independent Media.
Pretoria News