/ MEDIA STATEMENT / The content on this page is not written by Polity.org.za, but is supplied by third parties. This content does not constitute news reporting by Polity.org.za.

The DA is calling on Provincial Police Commissioner, Rismati Shivuri, to ensure that the South African Police Service acts against political violence in the Northern Cape.

This comes after an incident in Ritchie on Sunday, whereby a DA activist was attacked by three ANC supporters, who do not want the DA to “take over” Motswedimosa.

The DA activist was scratched and her hair was pulled out during the attack.

She proceeded to open a case at the Modderiver Police Station and handed in her statement on the same day, but she was not given a case number.

When she returned to get the CAS number on Monday, no one at the station was aware of the incident and it was evident that her statement had never been submitted by the officer, who supposedly dealt with her case.

This is the second incident in just over a month, that has seen the police choosing to turn a blind eye to politically fuelled violence in the Northern Cape.

At the beginning of March, two DA-activists from Bankhara were approached by an ANC supporter who accused them of being sell-outs who “work for the Boere”. He attacked our activists with a panga and a rubber baton, causing them serious injury.

When our activists reported the matter to the local police, the officer refused to open charges of intimidation and assault. The only assistance our activists received, was a blank J88-form which the local clinic refused to complete as there was no case number on the document.

By this time, it was too late to return to the police. The next morning, our activists were arrested and high-level interventions were required to get them freed, and to secure a commitment that the real perpetrators would be charged.

It cannot be that our police ignore political violence and intimidation, and act in such an openly prejudiced manner. Political violence is a very real threat and has even cost people their lives. It requires firm and decisive action from the start, to nip it in the bud before it spirals out of control.

The latest incident once again highlights why it is so critical that we have a police force that serves without fear or favour.

Only the DA is able to transform the police service into an honest, professional organisation that serves and protects all South Africans, regardless of their gender, their religion and their political affiliation.

Issued by The DA