On enquiry

FOURpolicemen shot dead in just over a week illustrates how the Western Cape SAPS is in grave danger of losing control. Of course, we all knew there were policing problems in Khayelitsha, which is why an inquiry was requested.

But this has been blocked by Police Minister Nathi Mthethwa. Predictably, at a press conference in Mitchells Plain, he blamed their deaths on the lack of support and constant criticism of the police by the DA provincial government.

But there is a policing problem in Khayelitsha which has to be sorted out, so acceding to the inquiry and working with the Western Cape government to improve policing in dangerous areas would seem the logical thing to do. If crime is to be brought under control, then everyone has got to work together.

It is well known that via the school protests last year, the farmworkers’ disturbances, and now the dirty protest, there are elements of the ANC in the Western Cape who are trying to undermine the DA government at every turn.

What they have to understand is that once you start undermining governments, it is inevitable that the control of law and order will be compromised.

It is also inevitable that the criminal class will eventually run with the ball themselves and escalate the situation in their own interests.

This is what we are beginning to see in the Western Cape, and I have no hesitation in holding the likes of Marius Fransman and Tony Ehrenreich responsible.