Pretoria – Minister in the Presidency responsible for Performance, Monitoring and Evaluation, Jeff Radebe, says the criminal justice system is ready to deal with the perpetrators of attacks on foreign nationals.
Minister Radebe is chair of the Inter-Ministerial Committee (IMC) appointed by President Jacob Zuma to deal with the attacks on foreign nationals.
“Perpetrators of these crimes can expect that prosecutors will ask courts to impose sentences of direct imprisonment,” he said on Tuesday.
Addressing the media in Pretoria, Minister Radebe said to ensure speedy prosecutions in these cases, the Department of Justice and the National Prosecuting Authority have set up dedicated courts with magistrates, prosecutors and interpreters to address the situation in KwaZulu-Natal.
Minister Radebe said the dedicated courts have been put in place in Chatsworth, Umlazi, Ntuzuma and Durban.
“We are not taking a business as usual approach. We want to ensure that the perpetrators of these vile acts are dealt with as speedily as possible,” he said.
With regard to the 2008 attacks on foreign nationals, the Minister disputed media reports that only one person was convicted for the attacks.
“We would like to categorically place it on record that these claims are far from the truth,” he said.
A NPA list of serious cases following the 2008 attacks on foreign nationals -- dated 28 July 2009 – shows that 79 cases recorded led to the convictions.
These included convictions for public violence, robbery, housebreaking and theft, malicious damage to property, murder, assault, intimidation and possession of dangerous weapons.
Minister Radebe called on communities to continue to work with government to ensure that there is lasting peace.
People with information on plans to cause violence or those who have witnessed acts of violence have been urged to call Crime Stop on 086 0010111 or SAPS Emergency number 10111. – SAnews.gov.za
