Minister for Public Service and Administration, Mr Senzo Mchunu

The Minister for the Public Service and Administration, Mr Senzo Mchunu, will be visiting the Kwa-Yanguye (Sanguye) area in Melmoth, KZN, following a series of murders in the area, with 25 known murders in which police activity is alleged to be slow.

The Minister’s visit will take place on Tuesday, 23 March 2021 at 10:00 hosted at the Tribal Court, Kwa-Yanguye, Melmoth, KZN, in the area that is under the traditional authority of iNkosi uBiyela.

The murder incidents have led to citizens of the country losing trust in the government, and public service, whilst living in fear.

Chapter 11 of the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa 1996, particularly section 205 (3), states: “The objects of the police service are to prevent, combat and investigate crime, to maintain public order, to protect and secure the inhabitants of the Republic and their property, and to uphold and enforce the law.”

The professionalization of the public service is one of the Minister’s priorities and is contained in the National Development Plan (NDP) 2030.

As the rendering of security forms part of public service, the Minister for the Public Service and Administration, Mr Mchunu, will be meeting with iNkosi uBiyela, members of the community as well as the Provincial South African Police Service in Melmoth, in order to understand what has been done or not done in the name of public service and ideally, what the citizens of the country expect from the police in this respect.

Chapter 12 of the NDP is titled: “Building safer communities”, and envisages a safe South Africa, where the citizens have no fear of crime. Furthermore, the NDP envisages a police service which is well-resourced, professional and respects the rights of all the citizens to equality and justice.