7 September 2015
Ministers
Deputy Ministers
Directors-General
Generals
Senior officials
Members of the media
Ladies and gentlemen
We last provided a detailed briefing in May. A lot has since happened in restoring peace in communities that were particularly affected by violence in April this year. We are pleased with the progress we have made, particularly on issues that were raised by communities as they relate to crime. We, however, remain concerned by the recent spate of attacks on our police officers.
ATTACKS ON POLICE OFFICERS
As many as 58 of our police officers have been murdered this year. Such killings, are indeed an attack on the very foundation of our democracy – the democracy that we fought so hard for. We call upon everyone to condemn such attacks and urge everyone in South Africa to do their civic duty by providing any information that may assist in the arrest of these perpetrators.
SPATE OF VIOLENT PROTESTS
We also condemn the spate of violent protests in some parts of the country for example the recent burning of a police Nyala armoured vehicle in the village of Vuwani in Limpopo. Vandalising property or infringing on the rights of those who opt not to protest should be condemned in the strongest terms.
The Constitution of our country guarantees everyone the right, to peacefully assemble, demonstrate, picket and present petitions. Protests therefore, that threaten the lives of fellow human beings and destroy property are condemned. Such acts of violence, intimidation and destruction of property are criminal offences, and the police will arrest and prosecute those who commit such acts.
THE WORK OF THE IMC ON MIGRATION CONTINUES
The Inter-Ministerial Committee (IMC) on Migration continues to fulfil its mandate to deal with all the underlying causes of the tensions between certain communities and foreign nationals.
The work of creating safer communities where our people live in peace continues through Operation Fiela – Reclaim. Under the leadership of the NATJOINTS and ProvJoints, Operation Fiela - Reclaim multidisciplinary operations are on-going in crime hotspots around the country. The intelligence services continue to conduct threat and information analysis to ensure focused and intelligence driven operations.
The Department of Home Affairs continues to conduct checks to ensure adherence to the immigration laws of the country. Municipalities continue to inspect buildings for adherence to by-laws and those buildings that do not meet the minimum requirements for human habitation. The Department of Labour inspects various places of employment for adherence to labour laws of the country.
During the period 1 April 2015 to 30 June 2015 the following arrests were effected through Operation Fiela around the country:
|
PROVINCE |
TOTAL ARRESTS |
|
Gauteng |
3 064 |
|
KwaZulu-Natal |
916 |
|
Mpumalanga |
1 225 |
|
Western Cape |
1 264 |
|
Northern Cape |
561 |
|
Eastern Cape |
460 |
|
North West |
881 |
|
Limpopo |
1 314 |
|
Free State |
283 |
|
TOTAL |
9 968 |
MASSIVE 2-DAY FIELA OPERATION HELD NATION-WIDE
The biggest Fiela multidisciplinary operations were held on 30 & 31st July 2015 where all provinces conducted synchronised operations. These operations were held in all major centres across the length and breadth of the country.
The total number of arrests only for the two days was 2908. The suspects were arrested for, amongst others, the following crime categories:
|
CRIME COMMITTED |
NUMBER OF PERSONS ARRESTED |
|
Illegal possession of firearms and ammunition |
31 |
|
Murder |
10 |
|
Dealing in drugs |
16 |
|
Possession of drugs |
585 |
|
Drinking in public place |
181 |
|
Driving under the influence |
10 |
|
Illegal dealing in liquor |
147 |
|
Second hand goods act |
11 |
|
Possession of counterfeit goods |
23 |
|
Possession of illegal cigarettes |
24 |
|
Kidnapping |
4 |
|
Sexual offences |
7 |
|
Employing of undocumented migrant |
4 |
|
Undocumented migrant |
1123 |
|
Assault |
144 |
|
Burglary residential |
40 |
|
Fraud |
18 |
|
Possession of suspected stolen property |
43 |
|
Possession of gold bearing material |
7 |
|
Warrants of arrest |
65 |
The following items were confiscated during the two-day synchronised operations
|
CONFISCATIONS |
||||
|
Drugs: |
Cannabis / Dagga (grams) |
60540 |
|
|
|
|
Cannabis / Dagga Plants |
94 |
|
|
|
|
Cocaine powder (grams) |
0.016 |
|
|
|
|
Crack Cocaine / Rocks (grams) |
32.02 |
|
|
|
|
Crystal Meth TIK TIK(grams) |
118.54 |
|
|
|
|
Ecstasy (1 tablet) |
76 |
|
|
|
|
Ecstasy (½ tablet) |
2 |
|
|
|
|
Heroine Thai White (grams) |
734 |
|
|
|
|
Khat (grams) |
35909 |
|
|
|
|
Mandrax (1 tablet) |
148 |
|
|
|
|
Mandrax (½ tablet) |
11 |
|
|
|
|
Mandrax powder (grams) |
1.5 |
|
|
|
|
Nyaope (grams) |
34 |
|
|
|
|
Whoonga (grams) |
3 |
|
|
|
Vehicles |
58 |
|
||
|
Firearms |
28 |
|
||
|
Ammunition |
175 |
|
||
|
Liquor (litres) |
24348 |
|
||
|
Other confiscations |
61469 |
|
||
In paying tribute to the thousands of women who took part in the historic August 1956 march to the Union Buildings, teams of women officials on 20 August 2015 held Operation Fiela multidisciplinary operations around the country.
As part of the operations, held under the theme “Operation Basadi Ba Fiela”, the women-led teams conducted Roadblocks, Vehicles searched, person searches, business compliance inspections and visits to taverns.
The total number of arrests only for Operation Basadi Ba Fiela was 468. The suspects were arrested for a wide range of crimes including:
- 68 suspects for possession of drugs,
- 03 rape suspects,
- 150 undocumented migrants,
- 53 suspects for assault,
- 03 murder suspects,
- 47 wanted persons with arrest warrants,
- 20 suspects for possession of suspected stolen property.
Through these operations a number of illegal substances were confiscated:
|
CONFISCATIONS |
|
|
|
Vehicles |
5 |
|
|
Firearms |
Handgun |
4 |
|
Drugs: |
Cannabis / Dagga (g) |
26075.463 |
|
|
Cannabis / Dagga Plants |
20 |
|
|
Cocaine powder (g) |
0.013 |
|
|
Crack Cocaine / Rocks (g) |
1 |
|
|
Crystal Meth TIK (g) |
16 |
|
|
Heroine Thai White (g) |
32.017 |
|
|
Mandrax (1 tablet) |
8 |
|
|
Mandrax (½ tablet) |
12 |
|
|
Whoonga (g) |
1 |
|
Illegal cigarettes |
6428 |
|
|
Liquor (litres) |
1528 |
|
|
Dangerous Weapons |
29 |
|
|
Other confiscations |
1334 |
|
SCREENING OF ILLEGAL FOREIGN NATIONALS
A team comprising of SAPS and the Department of Home Affairs is continuing to screen foreign nationals detained at repatriation centres such as Lindela. The screening process includes the capturing of biometrics such as fingerprints, as well as photographs.
In the period from April to July 2015 a total of 6781 individuals awaiting deportation were screened. Out of those screened, 1694 have been linked to crimes committed in the Republic of South Africa. Amongst the 1694 individuals, some are wanted on warrants for arrest, others are due for court appearances and others to ongoing investigations.
The identified persons are wanted for crimes ranging from rape, housebreaking, robbery residential premises, common robbery and car-jacking, to cases of theft, assault, dealing & possession of drugs. Some of the warrants of arrest date back to 2002.
Those that have been linked to criminal activities, their deportation process has been suspended pending their appearance to the courts. If found guilty, they will serve out their sentences and be deported to their home countries immediately upon release.
In the period April to July 2015 a total number of 15396 of people who were in South Africa illegally have been repatriated to their countries.
EMERGENCY SHELTER, HEALTH AND HUMANITARIAN SERVICES
The reintegration of foreign nationals in communities, who were displaced during the violence in April, has been completed. Government has worked with the UN and civil society organisations to ensure that all displaced persons were reintegrated back into their communities.
The last temporary shelter in Chatsworth, KwaZulu-Natal, officially closed its doors on 30 June 2015. Operation Sukuma Sakhe, led by the Department of Social Development, is being used to facilitate the complete reintegration of those who were displaced back into their communities.
DIALOGUES WITHIN COMMUNITIES
Another key intervention has been the encouragement of dialogues between South African Citizens with the foreign nationals that live within these communities. Apart from the other independent dialogues conducted by the religious groupings, through the Municipalities leadership community dialogues were conducted.
Community dialogues to reintegrate national foreigners were conducted in the EThekwini Municipality in the following wards:
Ward 12: Ward 13: Ward 17: Ward 38: Ward 71: Ward 78: Ward 89: Ward 61: Ward 72: Ward 09: Ward 04: Ward 24, and Ward 26.
Such dialogues have successfully contributed to the peaceful re-intergration of all those families that were displaced in April. We encourage the media to join in encouraging such dialogues to build the nation that fully appreciates that as a country we are part of the humanity and part of this Continent - AFRICA.
REHABILITATION OF THE DRUG SURVIVORS
Through the various Operation Fiela multidisciplinary operations, the issue of the drugs has become the key concerned raised by a number of communities.
During the various operations that have been conducted around the country, we encountered many young people, whose lives have been visibly affected by drugs. Most of these young people who have fallen prey to the ravages of drugs like mandrax, cocaine and nyaope. Drug abuse undermines sustainable human development and leads to various crimes within the communities. Many young people, driven by addiction, commit various crimes to feed their habits.
Government thanks those communities who have provided information that led to the raids in these drug peddling houses. Through our Social Development department, government continues its programmes to rehabilitate those young people who have come forward for assistance.
We also call on all sectors to join hands with government to expand access to rehabilitation programmes. We should support families of addicts to ensure that those affected drug abuse break the habit and are able to resume normal lives.
The Department of Social Development (DSD) participated in the Operation Fiela as a built up activity prior the Presidential Imbizo which was held in Eersterust. The officials from DSD went to police cells to assess service users and drug dealers that were arrested during the operation. The service users (People addicted) were assessed and recommended treatment intervention by DSD social workers.
REGULATORY INTERVENTIONS
The IMC is also directing medium term work in reviewing the regulations that impact directly on the issues that triggered the tensions between South Africans and the foreign national. Some of the issues been looked at are our by-laws that regulate businesses, the immigrations regulations that address the economic migrants that are in the country.
The Technical Task Team of Directors General is engaged in the work of developing a policy framework on the integration of foreign nationals with refugee status into local communities.
The IMC will at a later stage brief the nation with regard to some of the interventions that are proposed by the teams that are working in this area of work.
KEEPING OUR COMMUNITIES CLEAN FROM CRIMINAL ELEMENTS
As we conclude, we wish to emphasise that the work of reclaiming our public spaces from the hands of criminals is not the responsibility of government alone. All sectors of our society need to play their part in ridding our society of crime. We should all get involved in the establishment of street committees, neighbourhood watches and also join community policing forums.
The criminals live amongst us in communities, we know who they are. We should stop turning a blind eye towards criminality. We shouldn’t keep quiet when greedy people are destroying the lives of young people by selling drugs. It is the responsibility of all of us to be vigilant and work closely with law enforcement agencies.
Where criminality is suspected, people should give an anonymous tip to the police. Only when we work together shall we achieve the vision of making our country safer for all who live in it. If you have any information about any criminal activity, make an anonymous tip off to the Crime Stop call centre at: 08600 10111
We also encourage communities to report all gender-based violent crimes to the Social Development Command Centre on 0800 428 428 or send a please call me to *120*7867#
Enquiries:
Acting Cabinet Spokesperson Phumla Williams
Cell: 083 501 0139
Issued by the Government Communication and Information Systems (GCIS)
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