'Cops stood by' during Plett riots
11 April 2012
Neil Oelofse
WESTERN Cape Community Safety MEC Dan Plato acknowledged yesterday that there was evidence of "ineffective policing” in the failure to save a number of businesses destroyed during rioting in the Plettenberg Bay industrial area in recent weeks.
In a meeting with Plato in Plettenberg Bay, a number of businessmen described how police had stood by while arsonists and looters destroyed their premises and rioters prevented fire-fighters from reaching the burning buildings.
One man warned that businessmen with premises in the industrial area, adjoining the Bossiegif-Qolweni informal settlement, were "gatvol” and ready to take the law into their own hands to protect their properties if police were unable to help them.
Plato and senior police officers held a meeting in Plett yesterday and afterwards reported back to businessmen, promising action would be taken to protect the town’s residents and their properties.
Businessmen pointed out the only police assistance of any value was received from the public order policing service (Pops) based in Oudtshoorn and reinforcements sent from Cape Town.
"The local police told us to leave because they couldn’t protect us. They stood and watched while the looting was happening,” Francois Geldenhuis of Robberg Seafood said.
"We want to know how we are going to be protected. What is going to happen when the police reinforcements return to Cape Town? Are more businesses going to be burnt to the ground before the Pops return?”
Plato agreed more had to be done and invited businessmen to establish a Plettenberg Bay central city improvement district similar to those set up in Cape Town, which had curtailed crime levels by up to 90%.
The provincial government would assist the Bitou municipality and businessmen where possible to ensure "that there is no recurrence of what has been happening here”.
The MEC promised to report to the provincial cabinet and then report back to the businessmen.
Bitou mayor Memory Booysen said those arrested for public violence and arson were being defended by lawyers paid for by the ANC.
"It is noteworthy that the professional people who represent these criminals are not here today. Behind closed doors, they promise to curb the violence but they won’t commit out in the open.”
Another businessman said Plettenberg Bay police were afraid to act against the criminals because "they are scared of their lawyer”.
Plato said police had to take "hard-core action” against the rioters and ensure that those arrested were convicted. So far 36 people have been arrested.
http://www.peherald.com/news/article/5522
