ANC leaders urge Ramaphosa to deploy soldiers amid eThekwini crime concerns - IOL

The ANC has called for soldiers to be deployed in the "northern parts" of the city to crackdown on gangsterism and escalating crime.

ANC leaders in eThekwini asked President Cyril Ramaphosa to deploy soldiers to the area, including Inanda, Ntuzuma and KwaMashu, saying crime had become so severe that some people had abandoned their homes. The President addressed ANC volunteers on Saturday night following door-to-door campaigns in parts of eThekwini.

eThekwini Municipal Council Speaker Thabani Nyawose said crime was another major concern in the northern part of the city, including Inanda, Ntuzuma and KwaMashu.

"Criminals are running rampant. Crime in those areas affects ANC volunteers and members. Our volunteers cannot attend meetings late at night, and some people have moved away from their homes because of the crime.

"Mr President, we are appealing to you to look at the areas in the north and assess whether it is possible for the government to assist the police by deploying soldiers to those areas so that they can help fight crime," Nyawose said.

David Bruce, an independent researcher on policing and consultant to the Institute for Security Studies, said these calls are possibly best understood as electioneering rather than a serious response to strengthening safety in these areas. The motivation for military deployment in the Western Cape and other areas has primarily been gang conflict and its impact on other residents in those areas.

"The critical issues that need to be addressed to improve safety in eThekwini are strengthening policing and making more effective use of available police resources. There are already two police services active in eThekwini: the SAPS and the Metro Police.

"The first question I would ask is how these police personnel and resources can be better coordinated to improve responses to crime in areas such as Inanda and KwaMashu. An important element of this is also making much better use of information about crime.

"This is likely to be a much better long-term investment. I see bringing in the SANDF as a distraction from the main challenge that needs to be addressed. At best, it might have short-term benefits, but the bigger challenge is to address serious questions about how to improve policing," he said.

Nyawose outlined several key threats facing the ANC ahead of the upcoming local government elections, highlighting water problems and crime as among the key threats.

"Mr President, I just want to say that the ANC campaign has been going very well in the city. We are going to win eThekwini. We can give you that assurance. Come 4 November, the ANC will win eThekwini Municipality. We are not talking about wishes; we are talking about what we are seeing on the ground when we are campaigning."

Nyawose said the main challenge facing the municipality was the water supply, which he said affected 42 wards.

"Currently, the only challenge we are dealing with is the issue of water. It affects 42 wards in our municipality, where we have problems with water supply. The good thing is that we know each and every area where there are problems. We have plans and programmes that have been implemented to address the issue of water," he said.

Speaking about the ANC's chances in the upcoming election, ANC convenor Mike Mabuyakhulu reiterated Nyawose's belief that the party would win in eThekwini.

The party had been running a programme called Sibuyelekhaya, which encouraged those who had left the party to return. Mabuyakhulu said the programme had been a success.

"We have seen, throughout the length and breadth of this country, people coming back from other parties. We have said that eThekwini will not fall into the hands of other parties," he said.

President Ramaphosa said the elections were the first step towards regaining control in 2029.

"The ANC works well when it is fully in charge. To do that, our branches must be strong. We are an organisation of disciplined people. Our branches must show that they are rooted among our people," he said.

Ramaphosa said the ANC was approaching 4 November confident that eThekwini would return to its control.

"We have done a lot of good work," he said.

He highlighted the successes of the Presidential eThekwini Working Group over the past two years.

"Almost two years ago, businesspeople came to me and said the municipality was falling apart, the harbour was deteriorating and the railways were declining. We had to take dramatic steps to rebuild the systems in eThekwini and address major gaps, such as water.

"eThekwini has become a construction site. Wherever you go, there is visible progress. Other parties may think they could do better, but there is no party that can do as well as we have done," he said.