Pretoria – The Ministry of Police has refuted allegations that both Police Minister Nathi Mthethwa and his deputy are neglecting their duties.
Mthethwa is on leave and his deputy Maggie Sotyu is on an official trip.
“The fight against crime is not a one-man or one-woman show. We work as a collective. As members of the South African Police Service (SAPS), we all bring different yet complimentary expertise to the fight against crime,” said the minister’s spokesperson Zweli Mnisi.
According to Mnisi, government’s crime statistics, supported by various independent industry statistics, indicate a downward trend in most crime categories.
“Such successes were not achieved by the Minister and his Deputy (alone) but as a collective. Even globally, there is no empirical evidence that says one individual has reduced crime, hence we affirm the philosophy that says: together, we can do more,” he said.
Mnisi said acting Police Minister Dr Siyabonga Cwele was answering questions in Parliament on Wednesday, since the task formed part of his responsibilities, which he was familiar with - both in his acting capacity as well as the Minister of State Security.
Mnisi said the fighting crime was coordinated at the Justice, Crime, Prevention and Security Cluster level, and that Minister Cwele formed part of the cluster and he was “acutely conversant” with government’s overall crime fighting strategy. – SAnews.gov.za
