Admin
14 Sep, 2017
Police brutality is still a reality in S.A
Statement issued by Mr Bongani Msomi – UDM Secretary General The United Democratic Movement (UDM) in the strongest terms condemns the police brutality displayed at a service delivery protest in Hout Bay in the Western Cape, where a fourteen-year-old boy was allegedly shot in the mouth by security forces. We are appalled that the young boy was not only shot at once, but several times! It means the officer/s had intended to do grievous bodily harm. This incident is a throbbing reminder of many South Africans who have died because of the police’s use of excessive force. We are reminded of Andries Tatane who died in 2011 at the hands of the police while protesting for his rights. After so many years of democracy, the Country still suffers from the police brutality we experienced during the Apartheid era. This is gravely concerning and the continued incidents of police brutality against protesters cannot be allowed. The UDM has called for intensified police training, especially with regards to the Police Service’s code of conduct, and a revision of the curriculum, to enhance overall levels of competence and capacity. Officers who make themselves guilty of abusing their positions of trust, should not be defended; they should face the full might of the law. In addition, the Independent Police Investigative Directorate cannot only investigate; officers must account for their deeds. The UDM demands that the police officers, who on the video appear to be shooting at the boy, must be dealt with definitively. We wish the boy a speedy recovery. End.
Admin
21 Apr, 2017
UDM condemns police killings
Statement issued by UDM Secretary General, Mr Bongani Msomi The United Democratic Movement (UDM) sends condolences to the family and friends of the brutally killed police officers while on duty. As UDM, we note with shock and concern the increasing numbers of officials killed throughout the country. The recent killings bring much alarm and it warrants that something should be done urgently. We cannot carry on as if nothing happened. The attack on police is an attack to the citizens. UDM calls on community members to help in the protection of the police. They must be allowed to do their job without fear. When a police officer dies, not only the family is affected but the whole community and nation at large. The police must be trained in such a manner that will allow them to defend themselves when they are attacked. We wish to extend a speedy recovery to the police officer who was wounded during shootout in Soweto. We hope he gets well soon. We call on the security agencies to work tirelessly to arrest the culprits. We hope they will get arrested and brought to book. End
Admin
05 Apr, 2017
UDEMWO condemns attacks on young Cape Town girls
Statement issued by Thandi Nontenja – UDEMWO Secretary General The United Democratic Movement Women’s Organisation (UDEMWO) is shocked and disturbed by the recent brutal rape and murder of 11-year-old Stacha Arendse whose body was found dumped in an open field not far from her home in Tafelsig. This atrocity happened within just a few days after the body of murdered Rene Tracy Roman (13), was discovered in a house on the same street where she lived. These horrific attacks against women and girl-children are adding up and has become endemic to the Western Cape. But, we see far too many such incidents right throughout the country. UDEMWO condemns these criminal acts and we call upon the members of the community to work together with the police to ensure that such cruel crimes are not committed. It cannot be that everyday someone dies at the hands of those whom they know and trust. We are thankful that the alleged evil doers are behind bars, but we find it worrying that the man arrested for the attack on Stacha is a convicted rapist who was out on six months’ parole. We therefore hope that justice be swift and that harsh measures will be taken against those found guilty – they must never be unleashed on society again. We urge the MEC of Community Safety in the Western Cape, Mr Dan Plato, together with all the relevant stakeholders to urgently intervene in curbing this growing trend of attacks on women and children in the Province. One soul is one too many.
Admin
11 Mar, 2016
UDEMWO calls for action to arrest Mafevuka’s killers
As the United Democratic Movement Women’s Organisation (UDEMWO), we welcome the arrest of the suspects in the murder case of the 16 year old teenage girl, Franziska Blochliger in Tokai early this week. We commend the police and everyone who made the arrest possible and we hope that the case will not drag long before the alleged perpetrators are brought to book for their horrendous action. In comparison, it is saddening to learn that not much has been done regarding the investigation into the murder of the 19 year old Sinoxolo Mafevuka who was raped and murdered in Khayelitsha almost two weeks ago. To us this is a matter of concern. It leaves us with many questions of whether is it a matter of the other family having means to hire investigators to dig deep in order for things to happens or is it the law enforcement that is dragging feet. The South African Police Service never ceases to let women and the country down. As UDEMWO, we are calling on police to do more and make sure that the perpetrators are brought to book. We would be pleased to see the very same energy used in Tokai arrest being used for Mafevuka family. Statement issued by: Ms Thandi Nontenja UDEMWO Secretary General
Admin
26 Jan, 2016
UDEMWO has no confidence in police
University of Cape Town. As women we are left with a question of how many innocent women must fall victim of this horrendous crime before swift actions can be taken to put an end to this and protect them. We are even more disappointed by the South African Police Service officials who are dragging their feet to arrest the perpetrators. If our government and all other stakeholders involved have money to pay for security during student protests, we strongly believe that they have the money to hire security companies at the institutions for the protection of women. UDEMWO is calling for stringent security measures at the university and all other higher learning institutions throughout the country. It is sad to know that the very places that are supposed to be safe are the most vulnerable to acts of crime. End
Admin
22 Jan, 2016
UDM welcomes the appointment of new Police Commissioners
Statement issued by Bongani Msomi, UDM Secretary General The United Democratic Movement (UDM) welcomes the appointment of the two Commissioners, Lieutenant General Baile Brenda Motswenyane who will be at the helm of the North West Police while Lieutenant General Khombinkosi Elvis Julathe will be in control of the gangster riddled Western Cape Province. We hope that the newly appointed Commissioners will bring a positive change and turn things around in the provinces and in the South African Police Service as a whole. The Western Cape is currently battling with high number of gangster-related issues including drug dealing and crime. We hope that Lieutenant General Julathe will bring strategies to curb the escalating problems and not be a part of them. The nation is waiting to see the Commissioners proving and showing that they are appropriate incumbents. The citizens deserve better. The country has witnessed the failure of the police in executing their duties in a number of aspects, failure to get convictions on serious or high profiled criminal cases, the killing of innocent protesters during service delivery protests etc. We are calling upon Lieutenant General Motswenyane to make sure that these mistakes are put to a stop. End
Admin
16 Jul, 2015
UDEMWO is devastated by the recent horrific attack against a 14 year old girl in Grabouw
Statement issued by Thandi Nontenja: UDEMWO Secretary General As the United Democratic Movement Women’s Organisation (UDEMWO) we are devastated by the recent attack on the 14 year old girl in Grabouw, Western Cape. We would like to convey our message of support and wish her a speedy recovery from this horrific attack. This young girl has shown bravery after her brutal attack and was able to name the culprit. This incident is taking us back and reminding us of what happened to Anene Boysen who was also brave enough to name her attackers and the justice system failed her and many women of this country by letting one of the attackers walk free because of lack of evidence. We hope this time the hand of justice will do the right thing and be for the victim other than the perpetrator. Such individuals who abuse women and children in any how do not deserve to be part of our communities and that is why we want him to rot in jail for the horrendous act he has committed. We hope that the sentencing will be a lesson to other perpetrators out there. The abuse of women and children is growing everyday in this country and we cannot fold arms and watch, something needs to be done to curb this problem in this country. As UDEMWO, we are calling upon the Department of Social Development to make sure that women and children are protected. End
Admin
04 Jun, 2015
2015 Budget Vote 23: Police address by Mr LB Gaehler, MP
Honourable Chairperson, Ministers and Members The United Democratic Movement supports budget vote number 23 on POLICE. The incident at the Alexandra police station yesterday is a cause for great concern. Not less than four lives have been lost in a short space of time. More disturbing is that the shooting of a wife, two relatives and a police officer took place at a police station where it is expected that citizen’s safety is guaranteed. Many police offers are working under stressful conditions with no support mechanisms. Some are reported to be resisting attending counselling fearing that if they are diagnosed with certain conditions, such may make it difficult to get upward mobility at work. One of the things that the department needs to priorities is the implementation of a doctrine that ensures that our police service functions according to a set of rules that are in line with the values enshrined in the Constitution of the Republic. The department must also run a consistent programme intended to condition the police for the demanding service they have to deliver to the communities. Related to this, is a concerted mobilisation of communities so that the relationship between the police and communities is the one that enhances the service and ensure maximum security of the citizens. The instability with the Independent Police Investigating Directorate (IPID), undermines the strategic objectives for which that directorate was established. The ministry must ensure that the IPID stability is high in its agenda. The allegations about police officer’s involvement in serious crimes are on the increase with little consequences if any. The low conviction rates of implicated officers suggest that the police do not take the problem seriously and that the policies in place to deal with this matter are ineffective. The department must pay attention to this crisis. The morale and discipline of some of the police officers in some of the police stations lives much to be desired. This is coupled with the conditions under which these officers are expected to deliver services as well as their attitude towards the service and citizens. On the 7th of October 2014, I penned a letter to the Minister of Police bring to his attention the poor service I was personally exposed to at the Ngangelizwe Police Station in Mthatha, Eastern Cape. A combination of two fundamental factors referred to above, in that police station they find expression. The station had no tools for operation, such as a mere photocopy equipment, inks and others, let alone long queues that not attended to. The service in this station is a direct opposite of what is presented by the Minister and the department on the kind of service they commit to deliver to citizen. Madam Chair, as I speak now, detective sections of many police stations across the country are unable to get photos from their colleagues in the photo section, because it is claimed that funds are not sufficient to make them available. This is rendering the detective sections incapable to discharge its responsibility and deliver services to the poor citizens. We call on the Ministry to attend to this as an urgent matter. The Ministry and the department must pay very close attention to the daily work and service given in these police stations across the country. Madam Chair, the turnaround time of the Legal Aid Board, is rather disturbing. There are cases that are not concluded due to their lack of timely response to service request by the public. We to repeat the call we made with regard to the creation of special courts to respond to spontaneous illegal activities by communities. We must also consider the transformation of the judicial system as a priority that must not be stretched too long. Security of prison and court officials as well as facilities thereof, constitute an area for consideration by the department as in some instances, there have been reports of a lack of safety in the correctional services centres. An integrated programme and implementation by all the justice cluster will help us resolve many of the challenges confronting this area of strategic importance in the broader transformation agenda. Thank you
Admin
27 Aug, 2014
SA’s trigger happy police
Media statement by Mr Bongani Msomi, UDM Secretary General Understandably so police brutality is an emotive issue in a country with our history. However, we never in our wildest dreams thought that, post-1994, we would again see brutal police violence. The United Democratic Movement (UDM) is concerned about the number of incidents of late of egregious police brutality and indiscriminate use of force. The ill-considered “shoot first-ask questions later” rhetoric by senior politicians and police officers sketches a bleak picture of a “new policing policy”. This is evidenced by Police Commissioner Riah Phiyega’s attitude towards the Marikana Massacre and now Free State MEC for police, Butana Kompela, has defended violent police action in Henneman where four alleged criminals were killed. The passing of Andries Tatane in 2011 and the death in 2013 of a Mozambican taxi driver after being dragged behind a police van – to name but two – are still fresh in our memories. When the families of Elais Thage and Tsholofelo Mothobi buried their children at the weekend much animosity was directed our police services. The UDM does not dispute that the police has a tough job and we support zero-tolerance to crime, but to laugh off police brutality makes a mockery of our laws and is immoral. Experts have said that it is not small number of officers who act illegally, but that the problem is systemic and widespread, and that it is going to keep on happening. In some instances communities feel justified in retaliating. Despite what our police leaders seem to be proponents of South Africa cannot tolerate a trigger happy police force. In this regard we believe that intensifying police training, especially in the code of conduct, and revisiting the curriculum to enhance overall levels of competence and capacity would be part of the solution. Those officers who make themselves guilty of abusing their positions of trust, should not be defended; they should face the full might of the law. We are hopeful that our new Minister of Police, Nkosinathi Nhleko, will well acquit himself of his job. The UDM however suggests that he institute a judicial commission of inquiry into police brutality to get to the bottom of this scourge.
