Image: [Siphiwe Sibeko/Reuters]
The Director and Senior Associate of the African Centre for Security and Intelligence Praxis, Eldren de Klerk says the police need to respond to concerns about why after almost five days they are unable to bring the riots enveloping parts of Gauteng and KwaZulu-Natal under control without the help of the army.
President Cyril Ramaphosa warned the instigators of the current violence sweeping through KwaZulu-Natal and Gauteng on Monday that they will be dealt with, with the full might of the law.
Ramaphosa announced the deployment of the South African National Defence Force (SANDF), while police officers who are on special days and leave, were recalled.
Speaking to Radio Islam, De Klerk says police do not seem to have a clear strategy on how to deal with the riots.
“They have information, they know what is about to happen and somehow that doesn’t translate into something that seems planned, orchestrated and deploys policing resources as and when and where it’s needed.”
De Klerk says police are failing to secure soft targets.
“They’re not hardening those targets from further attacks and that’s like sort of crime prevention 101, that’s both theory and practice. Somehow they are missing a step and I think it’s this legacy of unfortunate years of SAPS being focused on the numbers.”
De Klerk while Ramaphosa is trying to provide leadership, the country needs other institutions including the police to step up and show South Africans that the confidence in them is not misplaced.
Listen to the interview with Elden de Klerk
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