Experts differ on roping migrants into law enforcement

 

As the debate over the possible incorporation of documented migrants into the country’s crime fighting agencies continues, one expert warns that this could pose a security risk for South Africa.

Speaking to YNews, Professor Mary de Haas says law enforcement authorities should rather consider bringing locals into the force as they know their own communities better.

Her remarks come days after a heated public discourse, with varied views, over Joburg Mayor, Dada Morero’s now withdrawn proposal for government to hire documented foreign nationals to assist them in curbing crime.

Professor de Haas says with the simmering tensions between foreigners and South Africans in the country at the moment, such a move could also endanger the lives of migrants.

She has also commended the new Police Minister, Senzo Mchunu, for the perceived improved morale within the police service.

 

De Haas says she hopes he will do a better job than his predecessor, Bheki Cele.

 

The Institute for Security Studies (ISS) on the other hand believes roping migrants into the fight against crime could enhance the law enforcement sector.

The ISS’s Graham Newham says the move could help the under resourced South African Police Service (SAPS) to make inroads into places where local officers have been finding difficult to infiltrate.

Meanwhile, social media is abuzz with excitement with South Africans commending the police in KwaZulu-Natal for nabbing over 120 people, including illegal migrants, in Durban.

Earlier today, the police raided six buildings, in which they found drugs, illegal ammunition and American dollars.

KZN Police Commissioner, Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi, has vowed to continue with the raids as they intensify their efforts to curb crime.

 

Chichi’s case helped us a lot, we didn’t see this coming.

— LesegoD (@Lesego_Disipi) August 27, 2024

KZN leading by example as always when it comes to crime fighting. Rea leboga 🙏🙏🙏

— SpaceNinja (@HendrickMohlal1) August 27, 2024

We need KZN police nationwide.

— Tasneem (@TasneemBashir4) August 27, 2024

May this be the start of a long overdue, large-scale clean up of our city 🙏🏽
Make Durban great again! 🇿🇦🇿🇦
These buildings belong to South Africans.
Let the great work continue 💯#Abahambe Mkhwanazi KZN SAPS https://t.co/c5cbS1wFW5

— Wings Over Africa (@AzanianSanusi) August 27, 2024

Damn those kzn cops are not playing at all this time around. Bheki Cele was definitely the problem here😭😭😭

— Zero (@Zero_Baleni) August 27, 2024

Some South Africans have also called on the police in Gauteng to follow suit.

The main problem is that Provincial Police Commissioners are mostly politically appointed. They do not appoint people who have been in the police to such positions. It’s a rare case with Lt.Gen Mkhwanazi in KZN https://t.co/cHbbf9wVlE

— Kendrick (@Kendrick_lit) August 27, 2024

Have you watched the KZN raid; when will you be doing the same as Johannesburg and Tshwane?

— Chris Nkuna (@chrisnkuna) August 27, 2024

KZN SAPS Appreciation Tweet,Without them and General Mkhwanazi KwaZulu-Natal would still be a place of criminals and Durban CBD owned by illegal Foreigners, Gauteng SAPS take bribes instead of arresting Nigerians and Zimbabweans at Sunnyside,Hillbrow and JHB CBD#Abahambe pic.twitter.com/gHuTrvz3en

— IG:Joy-Zelda (@joy_zelda) August 27, 2024

True.

KZN turn around is happening faster than Gauteng.

Hopefully they will be embarrassed enough to act accordingly

— sbudamusic (@sbudamusic) August 27, 2024