The Bellville Velodrome was abuzz with activity as the deputy minister of police warned local residents to guard against crime during the festive season.
Minister Bongani Mkongi spoke at the launch of the provincial police’s Safer Festive Season campaign held at the Velodrome on Thursday 2 November.
Crime in South Africa is a “political weapon” and residents must be vigilant during the festive season, he said.
Hundreds of police officers, law enforcement and traffic officials attended the event, where the national minister of police, Fikile Mbalula, was expected to give the keynote address.
No reason was given for Mbalula’s absence.
Mkongi and the provincial police commissioner, Lieutenant-General Khombinkosi Jula, both spoke out against the misrepresentation and “manipulation” of crime statistics.
“By doing this they are encouraging crime,” Mkongi said.
“When we are harsh we are accused of violating human rights, but what about the human rights of those raped (or) those children who can’t attend school because of gangsters.
Mkongi has made headlines for controversial statements before.
In July the South African Human Righs Commission (SAHRC) condemned comments where Mkongi said “South Africans have surrendered their own city to the foreigners” when referencing hijacked building in the City of Johannesburg.
He was also forced to apologise in 2016 after saying residents in a building with a billboard saying “ZumaMustFall” should burn to death.
