Reflection is very important and a year into our 7th Parliament we should ask ourselves the question what change has been effected.
We have continued raising concerns from one Parliament to the next on crime, failing infrastructure, socio-economic challenges, and we have engaged in public participation and oversight which has revealed to many that our country is in a worse condition than we thought.
What is, however, even more concerning is the lack of effort towards holding all relevant entities accountable, failure of investigation into and recovery of wasteful, irregular expenditures and financial gains through corrupt means. This failure of accountability to the nation – more so the most deprived and economically challenged communities – is being repeated from one parliament to another.
Our Justice system and Saps are dismally failing the victims of crime; rape, murder, gender-based violence, hijacking and maintenance claims. Many cases are withdrawn and criminals are free to continue their crime spree in our communities, terrorising innocent people. I am shocked at the extent of reports of corruption within Saps and what I have personally witnessed over the years.
Crime is on an increase despite efforts to combat it; in the DA-run Western Cape Province, political games are at play where national is being blamed for SAPS’ lack of resources and manpower, but when concerned communities march or have peaceful pickets against gangsterism, drugs, and in support of Palestine, the presence of police does not reflect what the DA claims.
Sadly, we have further witnessed how SAPS is being used by certain elitist groups who support apartheid and the Zionist Israeli entity, to brutally attack, victimise and arrest peaceful picketers against a genocide of Gazans in Palestine. We see SAPS’ waste of resources as they respond to and protect supporters of apartheid and Zionism.
If only SAPS can respond as swiftly to calls for help in crime infested areas and arrest the real criminals instead of criminalising pro-Palestinian supporters who were exercising their rights to freedom of expression. While there are delays about apartheid-era crimes, we must not rest on our laurels when apartheid crimes are being committed right under our noses.
Donald Trump has asked the Hon President as to why Hon. Malema has not been arrested, AL JAMA-AH is asking why have the Members of Parliament , who visited claimed no apartheid in Israel, not been arrested? Why is the queries and investigation not yet responded to an completed against these members. Why have they not yet been held accountable by parliament? What they have done and continue to do, is an apartheid crime under the Rome Statute.
Furthermore, South Africa’s accession to the International Convention on the Suppression and Punishment of the Crime of Apartheid on 14 May 2024 has strengthen this resolve.
Let this be a strong reminder to those Members of Parliament, individuals, organisations and institutions who perpetuate apartheid activities inside or outside the country, that apartheid is a crime!