People who take the law into their own hands will have to face the consequences, Western Cape minister of community safety Leonard Ramatlakane warned on Saturday.
”The government has proven it will not tolerate lawlessness. There have been a number of arrests related to recent vigilante activity, and the police will continue to act against such individuals without hesitation,” he said.
The government has noted with ”increasing concern” moves by some groups to incite lawlessness and vigilantism. People wanting to help fight crime must do so within the rule of law, Ramatlakane said.
”Our fight against crime can only be successful if people respect the rule of law — this is one of the foundations of our hard-won democracy. Those who break the law in the name of fighting crime will also have to face the law.”
A number of people, including members of the South African Police Service, have been murdered under the guise of a ”fight against gangs and drugs”.
”As a result, several people were prosecuted and are serving lengthy sentences in jail and we will not allow a repeat of those vigilante actions.”
Ramatlakane said that communities need to resist the temptation of supporting vigilantism for short-term gains. Vigilante attacks distract the police from the fight against drugs like tik, gangs and other crimes, and take up precious resources to enforce the rule of law.
The new Liquor Act for the Western Cape will help regulate shebeens and taverns, which have proven to be significant contributors to crime, he said. The law aims to reduce the number of shebeens and taverns from more than 30 000 to about 8 000. It also gives communities a say in operating hours and the licensing of shebeens in their areas, he said.
Police and the government will work with law-abiding citizens, and Ramatlakane commended the thousands of Bambani volunteers, members of neighbourhood watches and street committees who are working with police to make communities safer.
”You have our support for as long as your actions are in partnership with the police and government,” he said. — Sapa