Policing serves corrupt elite

Bafana Bafana and Orlando Pirates player Senzo Meyiwa's tragic death is an indictment on the state of policing in South Africa.

The recent armed robbery and shooting of former ANC spokesman Jackson Mthembu and a robbery affecting footballer Sibusiso Vilakazi indicate that the police have lost control of the streets.

Contrary to some negative comments from the public blaming Meyiwa's girlfriend, Kelly Khumalo, for his death, he had a right to be where he wanted to be. He had the right to associate with anyone at any time without his life being snuffed out by crime.

The blame for this death and all other gun-related crimes, particularly in Gauteng, must be placed on a corrupt police force.

We are back in an era in which even withdrawing money from the bank or going to a shopping mall is a life-threatening exercise.

Raids are no longer conducted frequently and roadblocks are no longer mounted to intercept illegal guns and other contraband. Instead, there are tollgates of extortion and bribes.

Ever since the "I must eat first" politicians took over, the security cluster agencies have ceased to play their rightful roles under the constitution.

Crime intelligence, an integral and vital organ of the SAPS, has become a political tool used to fight factional party politics.

The less said about the useless Hawks the better. The corruption reported about the Special Investigating Unit now and again typifies what an anti-crime agency should never be.

The National Prosecuting Authority, which has a duty to prosecute criminals, is almost totally dysfunctional because it serves political agendas that prioritise protecting the looting political elite.