Manana encourages
municipalities to have by-laws
Media Statement
05 May 2010
Mpumalanga Safety, Security and Liaison
MEC Sibongile Manana has encouraged
municipalities to make by-laws in their
jurisdictions so that there will be
peace and order for the citizens.
MEC Manana was speaking at a MuniMEC
Meeting yesterday [04 May 2010] with
Mpumalanga public safety councillors in
Middelburg.
She said although some municipalities
had by-laws, they were however not
implemented in certain areas which
resulted in effectiveness of police in
handling complaints from the community
as a result of non-existence of these
by-laws.
She said municipalities that mostly did
not have by-laws were those that were
previously under the former homeland
administration.
“People call me in the middle of the
night and complain about noise and other
things that require municipal
regulations, because some municipalities
do not have by-laws, some people do as
they wish thereby violating other
people’s rights.
“When making the by-laws, municipalities
should be cautious that they [by-laws]
do not limit the police from carrying
out their duties,” said MEC Manana.
She added that new by-laws should not
conflict with the existing ones.
At the same meeting, stock theft was
described as one of the serious crimes
that affected especially the deprived
communities which require police
attention.
There are concerns that people’s cattle
are stolen and sold at pension payout
points and at auctions.
“Although currently there is no 100
percent solution, the police are doing
everything to combat this crime. We are
working well even with Mozambique and
Swaziland on this matter,” she said.
The meeting also agreed that the
department will sign the guidelines of
establishing street committees with
municipalities so that implementation
could begin soon.
Street committees will assist the police
in the fight against crime as
communities will be policing their
streets and villages in partnership with
the police.
The MEC also urged public safety
councilors and municipal managers to
familiarize themselves with the
Regulations of Gathering Act 2005 in an
effort to prevent tensions between the
police and communities.
“We are urging municipalities to
familiarize themselves with this Act, as
they sometimes make decisions which are
not in line with the requirements of the
Act.
“This leads to unnecessary unrest in the
province. These costs millions of Rands
in civil claims against the state. The
South African Police Service is willing
to train officers from municipalities on
how to handle gatherings of
communities,” she said.
Issued by Mpumalanga Department of
Safety, Security and Liaison
Enquiries: Zibonele Mncwango
Contacts: (013) 766 4018
072 159 1865
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