Sameera Casmod | sameerac@radioislam.co.za
29 April 2024 | 22:10 SAST
1-minute read

Image: Integrated Emergency Response

The mayor’s initiative aims to empower Metro Police with additional investigative powers, a move within the jurisdiction traditionally held by SAPS. Proponents of the plan argue that granting Metro Police greater authority could lead to more effective resource allocation and ultimately result in improved crime detection rates.

The proposal, which has garnered some support from crime experts, aims to reduce the load on the South African Police Service (SAPS), which is facing resource limitations and a decrease in detective numbers.

The inadequate efforts to combat crime in South Africa have resulted in this proposal, Professor Nirmala Gopal told Radio Islam International.

Gopal, a professor in criminology and forensic studies at the University of KwaZulu Natal, suggested that thorough research ought to be conducted to pinpoint the root causes of the inefficiencies within SAPS and to determine whether empowering Metro Police is indeed the most effective solution.

“I would find out what is the purpose for wanting to expand the mandate of Metro Police and to find out exactly where the inefficiencies are in as far as SAPS is concerned,” Professor Gopal said.

Echoing these sentiments, Dr Simon Howell, a research fellow in the Global Risk Governance Program at UCT, discusses the structural issues inherent in the relationship between SAPS and Metro Police.

“There has been, for many years, a lot of competition between SAPS and Metro and that simply pushing resources around does not actually deal with the issues,” Dr Howell remarked.

Regarding the need for legislative and policy reforms to facilitate more effective collaboration between the two entities, Dr Howell advocates for a streamlined approach that enables the sharing of resources and expertise to address the common goal of combating crime.

“There is clearly a need and there is clearly a lot of expertise within the metropolitan police services that could be of great use to SAPS if they were more effectively aligned in some way,” Dr Howell said.

Listen to the full interview on Sabaahul Muslim with Moulana Sulaimaan Ravat here.