SONA: Disappointing that the WC Police Commissioner has no answers

4 March 2015

This morning the Standing Committee on Community Safety in the Provincial Parliament was briefed by the Western Cape Provincial Police Commissioner, Arno Lamoer, on police action by Western Cape officers preceding and during the State of the Nation Address on 12 February 2015.

We are most disappointed that many of the pertinent questions remain unanswered. While we understand that some matters fall under the National Coordinating structures, we had hoped to receive more clarity on the Western Cape Police's role and some light shed on what transpired that day, especially given that media reports have shown that Western Cape police officers were deployed to the National Assembly.

The Commissioner was unable to answer a majority of burning questions from the committee, which were referred to the National Joints and the National Commissioner, these questions include:

Whether any Western Cape officers formed part of the "White Shirts"

If so how many Western Cape police officers were deployed to this unit;

Where were the officers deployed from and for how long were they seconded;

Whether the Commissioner was aware of the signal jamming;

Questions on the public order police outside the gates of parliament, the number of arrests made and reasons therefore.

Two weeks ago, on 18 February 2015, the Committee agreed unanimously to invite the Provincial Commissioner, to shed light on the events that transpired on the day of the SONA, specifically focusing on the Western Cape police's involvement. The Committee after deliberating, agreed that the Commissioner should brief us.

In fact, ANC Member, Pat Lekker agreed that we needed "to get clarity of what actually transpired" and in deliberating on the scope of the meeting, asked if we could "get also a planning of the SAPS as to what was their planning from the morning up until the end of the SONA." The ANC u-turn on this to now say the meeting was a waste of time and that the committee was not the platform to discuss the SONA, is therefore disingenuous.

The Constitution of the Western Cape states, "The Provincial Parliament may require the Provincial Commissioner of Police for the Western Cape to appear before it or any of its committees to answer questions." (Section 67 (2) Constitution of the Western Cape). Committees of the Provincial Parliament have a responsibility to oversee, hold accountable and promote transparency. It is our duty to conduct oversight over matters which are of public concern.

The ANC attempted to stifle debate and the agreed upon purpose of the meeting by shutting down questions from 2 political parties. These questions are on everyone's minds and have filled opinion pages and social media. As representatives of the public, members of parliament are duty bound to ask the tough questions.

It is furthermore concerning that the ANC suggested that the meeting be closed off from the media and public. As Chairperson of this Committee, I was not prepared to close the meeting, because our Constitution clearly states that "provincial legislatures may not exclude the public, including the media, from a sitting of a committee unless it is reasonable and justifiable to do so in an open and democratic society." (Section 118 (2) Constitution of the Republic) and there was insufficient justification to close the meeting.

Our unanswered questions will now be put in writing to the Provincial Commissioner and the National Commissioner.

Statement issued by Mireille Wenger, DA Western Cape Spokesperson on Community Safety & Member of Provincial Parliament, March 4 2015

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