Zille's MEC again proven wrong on gangs
The ANC welcomes the Cape High Court judgement that found six members of the 28's gang including its leader Saliem John guilty on three counts of murder, attempted murder, other criminal activities, as well as possession of an unlicensed firearm with ammunition, drug dealings and malicious damage to property.
The ANC commends our independent judiciary, the hard work of the SAPS Operation Combat team led by major general Jeremy Veary and all witnesses who stood up to bring these criminals down. They have been part of a process that brought to book the murderers of Ronald Rutgers, Ronald Levy and Elfonzo Maritz who were killed in 2007 as well as the attempt in 2008 on the life of Eden Smith.
The sentencing of the guilty will commence on 24 March 2014. They face stiff jail periods as they were found guilty also under the Prevention of Criminal Activities Act.
The ANC Western Cape spokesperson on community safety Dorothea Gopie says: "The ANC believes people who are engaged in such serious criminality should be dealt with. The ANC is glad the Rule of Law ended the law of terror by drug lords. Saliem John (about 33), also known as the ‘president' of Valhalla Park, were now found guilty of criminal gang activities in his own community! He is a third generation gang leader related to other drug lord kingpins like the late Colin Stanfield and his son Simon Stanfield (John's father).
"The ANC also notes that Saliem John is a close acquaintance of DA community safety MEC Dan Plato of the Western Cape. Plato was even received at John's house. This verdict vindicates the ANC's position and confidence in our police and courts to deal with criminals.
"It does not vindicate MEC Plato's dalliances with hardened criminals like murderers, rapists, robbers, drug lords or gang bosses. It also does not vindicate MEC Plato's peace pipe smoking with gangsters that merely elevate criminals as so-called leaders of communities.
"The ANC calls on premier Helen Zille to stop ignoring the inevitable: That she erred by appointing MEC Plato who is not fit for purpose in good governance and that she must sack him immediately as Plato is an embarrassment to her government, the DA and the whole of the Western Cape province."
The ANC has previously warned that Zille has turned a blind eye to this stumbling MEC who drags his office, department and government from the mud to the quirk mire.
"Plato defended his meetings with drug lords and even defends gangsters. And premier Helen Zille does nothing about her MEC who's reputation hangs in shreds! His clowning is counting against Zille, the Western Cape provincial government and the failing DA. The voters must deal with Zille for her inactions," Gopie added.
Plato in August 2013 in the legislature sang the praises of alleged drug lord Jerome (Donkey) Booysen who, according to Plato, controls and ‘owned more than half of Belhar'!
Plato also angrily defended his (now) former secretary after police found drugs in her home. Plato initially launched an attack on the integrity of the police instead of dealing with the reality.
The ANC will continue to promote trust in our police and judicial system, even though the Zille commission of enquiry has the opposite in mind. The ANC says our system and officers must be given support to deal with crime and take the criminals off our streets.
Statement issued by ANC Western Cape spokesperson on community safety Dorothea Gopie, February 13 2014
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