LOW INTENSITY WAR, the ACDP warns - we cannot guarantee that residents will not take the law into their own hands
The ACDP would like to voice their deep concern over the deaths of 4
policemen in Pretoria during the past 2 months and in the reaction to
the warning by the Institute of Security Studies, that the police could
increasingly take the law into their own hands.
We are all living in a low intensity war zone while citizens live in
fear and the police lose their lives because of unwise laws.
Two weeks ago a policeman, Bradley Meyer, who lived in Pierre van
Ryneveld was gunned down in Mamelodi while tracking a stolen car. He
leaves his wife and 2 small children behind.
This is something we cannot ignore and no wonder the Institute of
Security studies issued a warning that the police could increasingly
take the law into their own hands.
The Criminal Law Amendment Act No 105 of 1997 (Capital Punishment) made provision to set aside all death penalties.
Criminals were favoured over the rights of peace-loving and law-abiding citizens.
Corporal punishment as a deterrent against crime was also abolished in
the Corporal Punishment Act 1997, and the introduction of the firearms
control Act 2000, further hampers law-abiding citizens to protect
themselves and the police from using their firearms when apprehending
crooks.
Are the issues above not some of the reasons for the out of control situation in Pretoria?
The ACDP would also like to warn that the citizens could also take the
law into their own hands to protect themselves, as they are left
defenceless because of misguided laws and regulations.
Pierre van Ryneveld had several house breaks during September month of
which 1/3 were armed robberies. Clearly the situation is out of control.
What more can the residents do to protect themselves?
Sampie Niemand, Chairman of the Sector 3 Police forum and a Minister of
the Pierre van Ryneveld Community Church, also warns that the residents
are getting tested beyond their limits and he too, cannot guarantee
that they will not take the law in their own hands.
Are we guilty of allowing the current government to make laws that
leave all of us defenceless against a low intensity war, or is the
government guilty of ignoring the pleas and the cries of the people.
AnneMarie Sparg
ACPD Councillor Tshwane Metro and Regional Spokesperson
079 498 6971
Media Vrystelling
LEWE IN OORLOG SONE, die ACDP waarsku - ons kan nie waarborg dat inwoners die gereg in eie hande gaan neem nie?
Die ACDP wil ook sy kommer uitspreek oor die aantal poliemanne wat oor
die afgelope 2 maande in Pretoria deur kriminele elemente vermoor
is terwyl hulle aan diens was, en stem saam met die Instituut vir
Veilighiedstudies dat die polisie moonlik die reg in eie hande kan neem.
Net verlede week het ons een van ons polisiemanne wat in Pierre van
Ryneveld woon aan die dood afgestaan omdat hy durf waag het om
kriminele te wou vang.
Bradley Meyer was koelbloedig in Mamelodi doodgeskiet, toe hy die
diefstal van 'n motor opgevolg het. Hy was laas Dinsdag in Silverton
begrawe en laat 'n vrou en 2 jong kindertjies na.
Die gewysigde Strafprosewet, wet No 105 van 1997 (Capital Punishment)
het gesorg dat die doodstraf afgeskaf is. Die kriminele het nou meer
regte as wat die gewone inwoner van die land het.
Lyfstraf is ook afgeskaf in die wetgewing van 1997 en die beheer van
vuurwapenswet van 2000, het die Jan Publiek sowel as die poliesman se
regte om self te beskerm teen die aanslag van die
krimineel, weggeneem.
Die redes hierbo lewer ook ‘n bydrae daartoe dat misdaad nie meer in Pretoria beheer kan word nie.
Ons kan maar regtig begin om te erken dat ons tans in ‘n lae
intensiteitsoorlogsone leef omdat dat Mnr en Mev Publiek in vrees en
angs lewe net soos die polismanne wat ons moet beskerm.
Ons kan nie langer met ons koppe in die grond lewe nie, veral nie omdat
die Istituut vir Veiligheidsstudies ons waarsku dat die polisie
moontlik die reg in hulle eie hande sal neem nie.
Die ACDP wil ook graag ‘n waarskuwing uitreik dat die inwoners
van die voorstede ook dalk gedwing sal word om die reg in eie hande te
wil neem omdat hulle weerloos is teen die kriminele elemente as gevolg
van onwyse wetgewing.
In September aleen was daar 'n geweldige hoeveelheid van inbrake
waarvan pmtrent 1/3 gewapende roof was. Dit is duidelik dat die
situasie buite die beheer is.
Wat moet die inwoners nog meer doen om hulle self te beskem?
Sampie Niemand, Voorsitter van die Gemeenskaps Forum Sektor 3 en
Predikant van die Pierre van Ryneveld Gemeenskaps kerk waarsku ook dat
die inwoners gedaan is en dat hy nie kan waarborg dat hulle nie die
gereg in eie hande sal neem nie.
Is ons skuldig omdat ons toelaat dat die huidige regering onwyse wette
maak of is die regering skuldig omdat hulle die wense en
pleidooie van die bevolking verontagsaam en net eenvoudig klakkeloos
voortgaan met selfregverdiging as vedediging vir onbillike wetgewing?
AnneMarie Sparg
ACPD Raadslid Tshwane Metro en Streekswoordvoerder
079 498 6971