The civil rights organisation AfriForum is making a plea to Lt Gen. Khela Sitole, National Police Commissioner, to appoint a seasoned policeman in the vacant position of Western Cape Police Commissioner. After weeks of speculation, the news officially broke this morning that Lt Gen. Kombinkosi Jula was transferred to KwaZulu-Natal.
“We request a competent official that understands the Western Cape, the people and the province’s unique crime crisis,” says Johandré van Zyl, AfriForum’s Head of Safety for the Southern Region.
Various sectors of society have a serious shortage of police involvement – rural areas, gang-ridden areas and even the tourism sector of the Western Cape are being terrorised by violent crime. That is why the province needs a person that can handle the pressure that comes with the position.
“The Western Cape is in need of a leader that will acknowledge that the police are unable to handle the crime crisis alone and that will involve all role-players when combating crime,” concludes Van Zyl.