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Metro-cops move runs into flak
12/09/2006 19:10 - (SA)
Pretoria - The process to put all policing, including metro police, under the command and control of the SA Police Service was "advancing apace", said Safety and Security Minister Charles Nqakula on Tuesday.
In a statement released by his office, he said police management was scheduled to discuss the issue with the head of the SA Local Government Association (Salga), Amos Masondo, on Friday.
On Monday, he told a press conference that the Police Act would be amended by next year to make provision for one command-and-control structure for policing.
"There is already an understanding that we have to place all people involved in policing under the same command and control," he said.
Dianne Kohler-Barnard, Democratic Alliance spokesperson on safety and security disagreed, however, saying a more-decentralised metro police force was needed, "not a huge, unwieldy and bureaucratic force, which cannot effectively bring crime under control".
Bridging the gap
She said the national government should rather help local governments to better equip and train metro police officers to deal with crime.
Dumisane Ximbi, Cape Town mayoral committee member for safety and security, also criticised Nqakula's plan.
"In Cape Town, the metro police were introduced precisely because the SAPS was not adequately staffed or equipped to cope with crime in the region.
"The gap in policing compelled the City of Cape Town to take extra measures to protect its residents," he said.
He said the minister should consult more with local government before introducing legislation.
"Removing functions piece by piece from municipalities will simply undermine the role of local government, create a bloated national bureaucracy, and take governance away from the people," he said.
- SAPA
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