Break-in at the NFP’S offices

THE National Freedom Party said it would beef up security at its parliamentary constituency offices after criminals broke into the premises and stole valuables early on Sunday.

The break-in was reported to the SAPS by party spokesperson Ahmed Munzoor Shaik Emam, who alleged that criminals had targeted the party’s furniture and equipment to the value of R50 000.

He added that a man living in the area had contacted him on Sunday morning alerting him to the break-in after doors were left open by the criminals.

“It is difficult at the moment to determine the motive of those who broke in, I can’t even say it is politically motivated because I know for a fact that the SAPS is losing the war against crime. We have lost all our printers, laptops, fridges, chairs, tables, and everything that was in that office,” said Emam.

The party said that it was concerned by the high levels of crime in the area, and would work on repairing its offices and beefing up security.

Responding to the incident, Kwazulu-natal Provincial Commissioner Lieutenant-general Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi said that after being alerted to the incident, he ensured that a team of SAPS units were dispatched, fingerprints were taken and further investigations would be conducted.

Mkhwanazi also said that communities should work closely with the SAPS so that these crimes could be prevented. He added that the government should ensure it made more resources available to the police, which would enable policing units to respond effectively to crime scenes.

One approach being taken by Mkhwanazi to ensure that the police were responding appropriately to criminals involved changing bad police behaviour. He said that this was key to ensuring that police officers could be trusted again by the public, which felt the SAPS was not doing enough to fight crime.

“We must change the bad attitude of police officers who don’t take their jobs seriously. We need officers who will promptly respond to calls for intervention. Our people need to feel safe knowing that police are there to protect them.

“This way we can all do our part to help our communities and reduce crime. Protecting our people and arresting those who are terrorising our women, children and elders must be the priority of our police, whose job is primarily to protect and serve our people,” said Mkhwanazi.

He appealed to anyone with information to approach the relevant authorities and report criminal activity.