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18 Oct, 2025
Minister Cachalia and MEC Marais: the Cape Flats needs leadership, not lip service
Statement by Bongani Maqungwana, UDM Councillor in the City of Cape Town The United Democratic Movement (UDM) in the City of Cape Town condemns the violent attack on police officers and the torching of a Nyala in Khayelitsha. Such acts of lawlessness have no place in a democratic society and must be met with justice. However, government cannot pretend that these incidents happen in a vacuum. They are a symptom of a policing crisis that has festered for years. The truth is that many South Africans have lost faith in the South African Police Service (SAPS). Communities on the Cape Flats, in particular, have watched gang violence claim lives week after week while police stand by, under resourced, disorganised, or indifferent. When a police service fails to protect, frustration turns to anger, and anger eventually turns to revolt. Even the Acting Minister of Police Firoz Cachalia has publicly acknowledged that there is still no comprehensive operational or intelligence plan in place to combat gang violence in the Western Cape. That admission is as alarming as it is revealing. It confirms what residents already know: there is no coherent national strategy to deal with one of South Africa’s most persistent and deadly security crises. The UDM notes the reaction of Western Cape MEC for Police Oversight and Community Safety, Anroux Marais, who condemned the torching of the police vehicle. While her outrage is understandable, mere condemnation does little to comfort families who live in daily fear or to fix a broken policing system. Leadership requires more than press statements. It demands a coordinated, results-driven approach that matches provincial safety initiatives with national operational capacity. Until that happens, the cycle of violence and blame will continue. There is a serious disconnect between national and provincial levels of government. While the Western Cape government develops safety plans and deploys local resources, national SAPS leadership moves at a different pace. This lack of alignment has left frontline officers confused, communities unprotected, and criminals emboldened. South Africa cannot afford turf wars and political posturing when lives are at stake. The UDM in the City of Cape Town calls for: 1. A clear and funded operational plan to stabilise gang affected communities, with measurable outcomes and timelines. 2. The reestablishment of specialised anti-gang units with proper intelligence capacity and oversight. 3. A public audit of all policing resources in the Western Cape to expose where the gaps lie. 4. The rebuilding of trust through genuine community policing, not staged engagements or political photo opportunities. 5. A permanent coordination mechanism between national and provincial security structures to ensure that plans, funding, and accountability are aligned. South Africans deserve a police service that is trusted, competent, and visible. Until SAPS regains credibility, both criminals and desperate citizens will continue to act outside the law. Our message is simple: safety cannot exist without trust, and trust cannot exist without results.
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17 Oct, 2025
Restoring trust in law enforcement: new national crime prevention framework is needed
Statement by Nqabayomzi Kwankwa, MP, UDM Deputy President and Leader in Parliament Only 22 percent of South Africans still trust the police. That figure, revealed by the Human Sciences Research Council, is not a statistic; it is a national alarm bell. A country without faith in its police cannot guarantee justice or safety. In recent weeks, incidents of citizens burning police vehicles and attacking officers have become a tragic symptom of how deeply fractured the relationship between law enforcement and communities has become. These acts cannot be condoned, yet they reveal the frustration and despair of people who feel abandoned and unprotected. The United Democratic Movement (UDM) has long warned that the erosion of trust in the police is not accidental. It stems from years of poor leadership, internal misconduct, and weak accountability. As a political party that has consistently championed ethical governance and professional policing, the UDM has repeatedly called on the South African Police Services (SAPS) to clean up its act, restore command integrity, strengthen internal discipline, and rebuild the professional standards expected of a constitutional democracy. When police officers act without consequence, ordinary South Africans lose hope, and criminal networks thrive. The ongoing Madlanga Commission continues to shed light on the seriousness of the challenges facing the police service. Allegations raised during these hearings have underscored the need for the SAPS to confront corruption and mismanagement head on, to ensure that law enforcement serves the public interest and not private agendas. The UDM believes the Commission provides an important opportunity for the police to reflect, reform, and rebuild credibility through transparency and truth. The Ad Hoc Committee in Parliament has become an important platform for uncovering the depth of dysfunction within the SAPS and its oversight structures. While the UDM is not represented on this committee, we will continue to follow its work closely and insist that it leads to concrete reforms, not political theatre. Oversight must be used to restore the integrity of policing, not to manage scandal. The South African public is watching, and it deserves a process that results in accountability, not performance. The UDM condemns the failure of Acting Police Minister Firoz Cachalia and National Commissioner Fannie Masemola to appear before the Portfolio Committee on Police on 15 October 2025. Their absence forced the committee to defer the meeting without hearing from key entities, including the Auditor General. This disregard for Parliament’s oversight at a time of crisis undermines accountability and sends the wrong message to the public. South Africa cannot afford another cycle of delays, denials, or political protection. The UDM calls for a complete overhaul of South Africa’s approach to crime prevention and policing, anchored in the following principles: 1. The SAPS must be depoliticised and led by skilled, ethical professionals who are committed to service, accountability, and the rule of law. 2. Government must coordinate policing, social development, and education programmes to address the root causes of crime, including poverty, youth unemployment, and substance abuse. 3. Law enforcement visibility must be increased through better resourced police stations, functional patrol units, and active Community Policing Forums that work in partnership with residents. 4. The SAPS must modernise its operations by investing in technology, digital forensics, and intelligence-led policing to stay ahead of organised crime. 5. Independent oversight bodies such as the Independent Police Investigative Directorate and parliamentary committees must be strengthened to ensure transparency, swift investigation of misconduct, and regular public reporting. 6. The criminal justice system must focus not only on punishment but also on prevention, rehabilitation, and social reintegration, so that cycles of violence are broken and communities are rebuilt. The UDM further urges the Government of National Unity to establish a National Crime Prevention Council that brings together national, provincial, and local law enforcement agencies with civil society, the private sector, and research institutions. Such a structure must coordinate intelligence, align policing priorities, and measure progress on crime reduction across the country. South Africa needs a whole of government response that unites every sphere of the state in restoring safety and public trust. Safety is a constitutional right, not a privilege. Weak leadership weakens justice. The UDM calls on the Government of National Unity to treat crime prevention and police reform as an urgent national priority, not another task for committees and talk shops. The GNU must move beyond rhetoric and deliver a coordinated, well resourced, and accountable plan to rebuild trust between citizens and the state. South Africans deserve a police service that protects them, not one they fear, and a government that acts, not one that explains.
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07 Oct, 2025
Assault on Kimberley police officer: gender is not the story, lawlessness is
Statement by Zandile Phiri, Acting Secretary General of the United Democratic Movement The United Democratic Movement condemns in the strongest possible terms the recent assault on two police officers who were performing their duties in Kimberley’s central business district. The video of the attack, which has gone viral, is a disturbing reflection of the growing hostility toward law enforcement officers in our communities and the erosion of respect for the rule of law. The gender of the one officer should be immaterial. Whether male or female, no police officer should face physical harm or humiliation for performing their lawful duties. To highlight the gender of the one officer, as if the assault were more shocking because she is a woman, is the wrong logic entirely. It subtly reinforces the false and dangerous notion that women are somehow less capable of enforcing the law or managing conflict in the field. What happened in Kimberley is not about the strength of a woman but about the weakness of public discipline. The real issue is that criminals and ordinary citizens alike now believe they can defy, insult, and attack law enforcement officers without consequence. This is a clear sign that respect for authority and public order has collapsed. Law enforcement officers stand at the frontline of public safety. When they are attacked, it is not only an assault on an individual but on the authority of the state and on the safety of every South African. Communities cannot call for safer streets while simultaneously undermining and brutalising those tasked with maintaining them. At the same time, the South African Police Service (SAPS) must reflect deeply on how it interacts with the public. Many communities have lost confidence in law enforcement because of corruption, brutality, or neglect. SAPS must work intentionally to rebuild trust through fair, respectful, and community-based policing. Restoring public faith in the police will not only protect officers but also strengthen partnerships with residents who are often the first to see or report criminal activity. A police service that listens, serves, and respects citizens will find that respect returned. The UDM calls on SAPS to ensure that the perpetrators face the full force of the law and that consistent national measures are taken to protect officers on duty. Police morale, discipline, and safety are national priorities that require leadership and visible consequences for acts of defiance. We also urge community leaders, civic organisations, and faith-based institutions to play their part in restoring respect between citizens and the police. Building a safer country requires trust, cooperation, and the understanding that the law applies equally to everyone. No uniformed officer should ever fear for their safety while serving their nation. The time has come to restore both order and trust in South Africa’s streets.
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04 Oct, 2025
Cape Town cannot hide behind spin while billions go missing
Statement by Bongani Maqungwana, UDM Councillor in the City of Cape Town The United Democratic Movement (UDM) in the City of Cape Town notes with grave concern the large-scale police raids conducted across Cape Town this week in connection with alleged fraud and corruption involving R1.6 billion worth of municipal contracts. Reports indicate that 26 properties, including the private residences of municipal officials and businesses linked to tenders, were searched with documents and electronic devices seized as part of the ongoing investigation by the South African Police Services (SAPS). While we recognise the importance of law enforcement acting on credible whistle-blower information, it is deeply troubling that once again the City of Cape Town finds itself at the centre of allegations of corruption, maladministration and questionable procurement practices. These scandals come at the direct expense of ordinary residents who rely on municipal services and who expect that every rand of public money is spent on service delivery, not siphoned off through shady contracts. The UDM is particularly concerned that the spectre of “tenders for cash” has become a recurring theme in Cape Town’s governance. Allegations of links to underworld figures and repeat instances of unlawful contracting erode public confidence and reinforce the perception that corruption is entrenched rather than being rooted out. We caution against premature self-congratulation by the City for “cooperating” with SAPS. True accountability does not come from spin but from transparent investigations, full disclosure and holding individuals, no matter how senior, personally liable if they are found complicit. The UDM therefore calls for: • The immediate suspension of any officials under suspicion to prevent interference with evidence. • Law enforcement to ensure prosecutions follow swiftly so that whistle-blowers and the public see justice done. Cape Town’s residents deserve a municipality that prioritises clean governance and service delivery, not one mired in allegations of corruption worth billions. The UDM will continue to monitor these developments closely, engage relevant oversight bodies and demand accountability at every level.
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13 Sep, 2025
Violence against law enforcement in Valhalla Park a symptom of broken trust in policing
Statement by Bongani Maqungwana, UDM Councillor in the City of Cape Town The United Democratic Movement (UDM) in the City of Cape Town condemns in the strongest terms the recent attack on City of Cape Town Law Enforcement Advancement Plan (LEAP) officers in Valhalla Park, Cape Town. This happened after officers deployed to Valhalla Park as part of an ongoing operation responded to the sound of gunshots at approximately 3:26pm on Friday, 12 September 2025. While approaching the scene, they apparently encountered a suspect running with a firearm who allegedly pointed it at their vehicle. We understand that the driver lost control, colliding with a wall and injuring three people in the process. However, no amount of community anger or frustration can justify violence, the stoning of officers, or the destruction of public property. Such acts place lives at risk, undermine the rule of law, and rob residents of much-needed safety resources. At the same time, the UDM in the City of Cape Town recognises that these violent incidents do not happen in a vacuum. Communities like Valhalla Park are trapped in the grip of crime, gangsterism, and drug abuse, while the South African Police Service (SAPS) continues to fail in its constitutional duty to provide safety and security. Years of under resourcing, corruption, slow response times, and neglect have left residents vulnerable and frustrated, eroding trust between citizens and law enforcement. When communities feel abandoned to crime, they sometimes turn their anger against the very officers who should protect them. This is a dangerous cycle that must urgently be broken. The UDM in the City of Cape Town therefore calls for: • A strengthened and better resourced SAPS that can effectively combat crime and gangs in vulnerable communities like Valhalla Park. • A genuine rebuilding of trust between communities and law enforcement through visible policing, accountability, and properly functioning community policing forums. • An urgent national review of policing capacity in high crime areas, including Cape Town, to ensure that communities are not left to fend for themselves. The UDM in the City of Cape Town further urges communities to channel their anger through peaceful and organised engagement rather than violence. Law enforcement officers are also mothers, fathers, sons, and daughters who deserve to return safely to their families after serving the public. South Africans want safety, justice, and dignity. For this to happen, policing must be transformed into a service that people trust and respect, and communities must play their part in building safer neighbourhoods without resorting to violence.
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04 May, 2025
Role and pressures faced by the South African Police Service: criminals are out of control
Statement by Zandile Phiri, Acting Secretary General of the United Democratic Movement The United Democratic Movement (UDM) is concerned by the ongoing violence targeting members of the South African Police Service (SAPS). We extend our heartfelt condolences to the family, friends and colleagues of the 31-year-old off-duty officer who was gunned down in Langa, Cape Town. Our police officers play an essential role in maintaining law and order in a country plagued by high levels of violent crime. They are on the front lines every day, responding to emergencies, investigating serious crimes, and confronting dangerous criminal networks, often with limited resources and support. In a society grappling with crime and social instability, their service is not only courageous but indispensable. The murder of police officers, particularly while off duty, reveals the deeply rooted and brazen nature of criminality in South Africa. According to reports, seventeen officers were killed between July and September 2024 alone, with thirteen of those attacks occurring while the victims were off duty. This week, yet another officer was found dead in her police vehicle in Camps Bay under suspicious circumstances, and foul play has not been ruled out. Also of grave concern are the tragic deaths of Constable Cebekhulu Linda, Constable Keamogetswe Buys and Constable Boipelo Senoge, who were reportedly kidnapped and hijacked on 23 April 2025 and later found dead. This deeply unsettling incident raises serious questions about the safety and wellbeing of our police officers. They also highlight the urgent need for transparent, thorough investigations that leave no stone unturned in uncovering the truth. The UDM conveys its deepest condolences to the families, friends, and colleagues of the three constables. We call upon the SAPS leadership to urgently strengthen internal protection measures for officers both on and off duty. The government must increase investment in training, mental health support and the resourcing of police stations, particularly in communities that face severe levels of violent crime. We further call upon civil society to work hand in hand with law enforcement and to foster an environment where the dignity of policing is restored. Criminals must know that our officers are not soft targets and that harming them will bring swift and serious consequences. As a member of the Government of National Unity, the UDM remains committed to strengthening the capacity and safety of the SAPS. We cannot afford to lose more lives, nor can we tolerate a breakdown in the relationship between the public and those who serve them in uniform. Lastly, these incidents underscore a disturbing reality; if SAPS members, who are meant to uphold the law and protect citizens, are themselves targeted and killed with such apparent ease, it sends a chilling message about the state of lawlessness in our country. When police officers become fair game for criminals, it places every ordinary citizen in an even more vulnerable position. The erosion of safety within the ranks of law enforcement reflects a broader crisis of public security that must be urgently addressed.
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23 Nov, 2017
UDM welcomes the appointment of our new National Police Commissioner
The United Democratic Movement (UDM) welcomes the appointment of General KJ Sitole as our new National Police Commissioner. It is good that he comes from inside the ranks of the South African Police Services (SAPS). This means that he is a career professional and would therefore have a sound understanding of the challenges that face our police personnel; unlike his predecessors who were just parachuted in. Commissioner Sitole should be keenly aware that South Africa is in turmoil where safety and security, and civil disobedience, are concerned. The country has become a playground for thugs, hijackers, thieves, rapists, murderers and drug dealers. To compound the situation, police brutality, as well as inefficient service, bungling administration and corruptible personnel, have resulted in a loss of confidence in SAPS. This is must to stop. The law-abiding citizens must feel safe in their homes and when walking on the streets in our towns and villages. The country expects him to make a tangible difference in SAPS and we urge him to guard against becoming a puppet of those who might be pushing political agendas. Commissioner Sitole and his team must only serve in the name of restoring order, safety and security in our communities. He must be firm in executing his duties and he must not tolerate corrupt police officers who collude with criminals and/or succumb to bribery and/or extortion. We ask that Commissioner Sitole should come up with practical strategies to permanently curb continued crime that is holding our beautiful country, and her people, at ransom. The UDM hopes that Commissioner Sitole will, as soon as possible, set the ball in motion to restore the dignity and image of the police services and we wish him good luck. We will be watching his progress to see what positive, sustainable changes he brings about at SAPS. Statement by Mr Bongani Msomi, UDM Secretary General
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14 Sep, 2015
UDM reacts to the appointment of Mthandazo Ntlemeza as new head of the Hawks
Statement issued by Bongani Msomi – UDM Secretary General The United Democratic Movement (UDM) welcomes the appointment of Mthandazo Berning Ntlemeza as the new head of Hawks. It remains to been seen whether the statement made by the Pretoria High Court Judge, Elias Matojane, who earlier this year found him as a liar and dishonest person was untrue and baseless. We hope that Ntlemeza is not blowing his own horn and start to deliver. It is up to him to prove that what were said by the Judge were just comments as Minister Nathi Nhleko has said in defending his appointment. We also hope that this is not another cadre deployment. End
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14 Jul, 2015
Department of Correctional Service is letting down the nation
The United Democratic Movement (UDM) is concerned about the growing number of prisoners escaping in correctional facilities throughout the country, which sometimes becomes a clear indication that Correctional Service officials might have got a hand in these acts. This has also caused the public to lose hope on state organs due to victims becoming vulnerable and more susceptive to crime, after the culprits have escaped from prison. We are calling upon Minister of Correctional Services Micheal Masutha to come to his senses and deal with this problem. He should immediately come forward and tell the nation he is failing to fulfil his duties and abdicate his position. Prison escape is fast becoming a norm and it is very troubling, as many of these prisoners are behind bars for very serious crimes including and certainly not limited to murder and rape. The Department of Correctional Service must ensure that stringent security measures are put in place and adhered to by all the stakeholders involved. Almost everyday prisoners are escaping from prisons around South Africa and some do not get to be rearrested. Also, the officials placed in their guard, those within authoritative positions, get away with not following up or even conducting proper investigations. It is unfortunate that our government together with departments do not heed communities and often, ordinary citizens and community members are so oppressed in their own living environments, that they resort to violent protests in order to be heard. Criminals mock society’s laws. This has also raised a question on the killing of the South African Police Service officials as we feel that the escapees might be involved. Not long ago a number of prisoners escaped from Groenpunt Maximum Correctional Facility in Vereening. This further confirmed that the Department of Correctional Service is failing to do its job in protecting the community from the perpetrators. Statement issued by Bongani Msomi – UDM Secretary General
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12 Jun, 2015
UDEMWO is pleased by the court’s decision to deny bail against Christopher Panayiotou
The United Democratic Movement Women’s Organisation (UDEMWO) is pleased with the way National Prosecuting Authority has so far handled the Christopher Panayiotou and his co-accused case of murdering the innocent Jayde Panayiotou. Panayiotou and the men accused of killing this young woman do not deserve to be back in our communities as they pose a danger not only to the community but to those close to them. They have displayed clearly that they are not human beings with their behaviour. NPA denying bail for these cruel culprits brings hope to women and children in this country. It also sends a strong message to criminals as we are not safe in our own communities because of such inhumane individuals who abuse and murder us. We are living a life of fear in the hands of those we call loved ones. As much as we appreciate this denial of bail against the men but we would like to see the hand of justice being served. As UDEMWO, we would like to see synergy amongst the government departments i.e. South African Police Service, Department of Justice and Correctional Service as these departments play an vital role and they should complement one another in making sure that the rights of women and children are protected. UDEMWO is once again calling upon the Department of Correctional Service to review the parole system as we feel that it is not applied appropriately. It favours the culprits more the victims of crime. Remember, when you violate someone’s rights you should forfeit yours. Statement issued by Thandi Nontenja: UDEMWO Secretary General
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09 Jun, 2015
Police must refrain from using grenades and live ammunition when dispersing members of the public
It is with great sadness that during the Youth Month in South Africa we hear of a sad event of a student that was shot and seriously injured by police. This shows that as a country, we are still far from being free. The act by the South African Police Service officials have once again taken us aback and reminded the nation of the sad times during the apartheid era when students were shot and killed for demanding their right to education. The shooting of an 18 year old student Mawande Ngoyo from Lindelani Senior Secondary School in the Eastern Cape who is in a serious condition in hospital is really saddening and is raising question of whether as South Africans are we free indeed. Everyday we hear about brutal acts of police when dealing with public protests and this is deeply worrying that live ammunition are being used. As the United Democratic Movement, we are against the vandalism of properties when members of the public are not happy with service delivery and other things but the use of live ammunition is not acceptable at all. We therefore are calling upon the Police Minister, Nathi Nhleko, to come up with ways of dispersing and dealing with large gatherings. We would also like to wish a speedy recovery to Mawande. Statement issued by UDM SECRETARY GENERAL – Mr Bongani Msomi
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26 May, 2015
UDM sympathises with the Marikana Massacre victims and their families
The decision to take President Jacob Zuma to court by the family members, injured workers of the Marikana massacre and AMCU is the best action to force Zuma to release the findings of the investigation. As the United Democratic Movement, we are in full support of this decision and we hope he will realise the importance of the findings being made public as it is not just a report for the family and the injured miners but a closure of what happened to their loved ones on the 16 August 2012 who were victims in the hands of police while they demanded a better life in the work place. It’s been more than 4 weeks since Zuma received the report but up to now he has not made it known. To South Africans, this is a sign that government does not care about the poor. It is unfair to the victims who lost loved ones while others were brutally injured and now the North West police commissioner Zukiswa Mbombo is evacuating her office at the end of the month while the report has not been made public and she is one of the main state officials to answer to what happened on that day when police officers went berserk killing innocent souls for demanding their rights. Mbombo is not retiring but playing hide and seek, running away from what is in the report. This shows clearly that the delay by Zuma is a way of protecting those close to him and this is disgusting. Statement issued by UDM Secretary General, Bongani Msomi
