This week marks 100 days since the appointment of the new cabinet ministers after the formation of the GNU, and it has been a tumultuous three months, to say the least. South Africans were promised that we were entering a new golden age of unity and a government that operated in the interest of her people rather than the wealthy and connected few. Before the elections, South Africa was like a train being derailed and on its way to falling over into a pit of chaos and anarchy, but along came a new cabinet to put it back on the rails. But what has really changed, asks Juanita du Preez, spokesperson for Action Society.
The Minister of Police: Minister Senzo Mchunu
One of Action Society’s specific interests is combating crime, and we had hoped that the newly appointed ministers of police and justice would make some changes. Thus far, we are not disappointed with Mr Mchunu’s performance; however, to undo the damage done to the public image of the police after Bheki Cele’s tenure seems almost too much for one man. South Africans have lost complete trust in the police, and violent crime has spiralled out of control. The latest crime statistics revealed that more than 69 people are being killed daily in South Africa, and the majority of South Africans say that they feel unsafe when police stop them. In addition, more and more South Africans rely on private security to help them in the case of a violent crime.
Mchunu admitted that the level of crime in South Africa is intolerably high and continues to increase. He added that he believes in uprooting corruption within the police and permanently removing any officials found guilty of corruption. Mchunu wants to repair the negative perceptions and wants South African citizens to trust the police and feel safe when they are around.
However, we still have to see if Mr Mchunu’s bark actually has some bite to it. His latest test has come in the form of various mass shootings, including the Lusikisiki massacre, where 18 people, including women and children, were killed execution-style whilst attending a traditional ceremony. Mchunu has kept a close eye on the investigation and has vowed to bring those involved to justice. However, the arrested accused was out on bail after previous murder and escape charges, stressing the importance of building stronger cases against serious offenders. They shouldn’t be able to get out on parole just to re-offend.
In a recent meeting between SAPS and the Portfolio Committee on Police, it was revealed that the police are plagued by numerous problems that hamper their ability to combat crime, including a shortage of detectives and an ever-growing backlog in forensic evidence such as DNA samples. Action Society demands that these issues be resolved as soon as possible to bring justice to those who need it most.
Minister Mchunu faces a mountainous challenge if he wants to undo the damage his predecessor did to the police. Action Society believes in coming up with solutions, and we still hope to build a working relationship with the new minister that will allow for cooperation conducive to combating crime in South Africa before it spirals out of control into complete anarchy.
The Minister of Justice: Minister Thembi Simelane
Thembi Simelane, the newly appointed minister of justice’s tenure, has had a rocky start, with various political parties calling for her to step down as she finds herself amid a political scandal. She has been accused of misappropriating funds from the now-defunct VBS bank, totalling R575 600.
Insofar as how the justice system has fared under her tenure, there has been no change on the ground and victims of violent and sexual crimes continue to face the same frustration at the courts. The problems plaguing the justice system go hand in hand with the police. When the police fail to conduct their operations properly, the justice system has very little to work with.
Action Society has a first-hand account of how broken our justice system is, and much work must be done to get it back in working order. As it stands, our justice system leaves thousands of victims without justice and left with more questions than answers after leaving the courthouse. Their cases are postponed an indeterminate amount of times and the reasoning behind it is both arbitrary and insulting. We have also seen how easy it is for defence teams to employ the most transparent delay tactics to protect their clients. Action Society believes that stronger state prosecutors, magistrates and judges are needed if we want to see more results in our courts, especially when it involves cases where women and children are abused or killed.
Thus far, the minister has yet to do anything to inspire trust or change. We expect more.
Correctional Services: Minister Pieter Groenewald
Minister Pieter Groenewald has set his sights on upending the backlog of lifer parole applications alongside the National Council for Correctional Services (NCCS) in the past three months. When Minister Groenewald assumed office, he had a backlog of 495 cases, of which 170 are still pending decisions. He has vowed to clear the backlog by 15 October 2024.
Action Society is pleased with Mr. Groenewald’s steadfastness despite knowing his department’s challenges. The minister said the most pressing issues the department faces are overcrowding, dilapidated facilities, ever-increasing remand detainees, deteriorating infrastructure, staff shortages, and crime syndicates and gangs operating in the facilities. And despite not having the budget to face all of these challenges in the traditional way, Groenewald said they will make do with what they have, and it will require innovation, discipline, and commitment.
What Action Society wants to see is a complete overhaul of the parole system: parolees need to be monitored more closely and better, and management needs to be put in place to prevent violent criminals from reoffending. We have seen on numerous occasions women and children being killed as soon as their abusers are released on bail or parole. It is a vicious cycle that needs to end if we want to see a South Africa where all her citizens are protected.
We are hopeful that things are slowly moving in the right direction.
Minister of Social Development: Minister Sisisi Tolashe
The Minister of Social Development has thus far only participated in one or two public relations stunts with no concrete plans or steps from Tolashe regarding violence against women and children. Action Society would like intensive educational programmes targeting the youth about healthy relationships. We need to break the cycle of violence by setting a new standard for relationships. Even though Tolashe has stated that she will focus on the poor and the elderly, talk is cheap without actual plans and goals being set.
“It can be difficult to maintain faith when the systems around you are collapsing, but Action Society will remain positive that a working relationship with members of the GNU can engender the change we want to see. And in doing so, we can create communities where everyone’s safety is prioritised, and South Africa as a whole can flourish,” said du Preez.
