Neelam Rahim | neelam@radioislam.co.za

3-minute read
31 August 2024 | 17:07 CAT

ANC regional chairperson and Joburg mayor Dada Morero suggested foreign nationals be recruited as metro police officers to help deal with language barriers. File photo. Image: Gallo Images/Fani Mahuntsi

Much is being said about Johannesburg mayor Dada Morero’s later retracted decision that the city might consider letting qualified and properly documented foreigners into the JMPD.

This was to help bridge the language barrier with frustrated police when investigating crimes involving foreigners.

While some hailed the proposal, the former MMC Tembe, JMPD police chief before his stint at public safety, said the real problem was that police were using what he termed a “fishnet” to fight crime.

Former Joburg MMC for Public Safety, Michael Sun, said that without criticising the mayor, he thinks his utterances were not thought-through and provoked many unnecessary emotions, especially in a country with high unemployment.

Sun stressed the need for a comprehensive crime-fighting strategy. He cautioned against a narrow focus on language barriers, advocating instead for using scientific methods and formulating targeted strategies to combat crime effectively.

He said when he was the MMC of public safety, they had their strategy and knew how to fight crime with technology.

“We were smooth running, well equipped and well operated, intelligent. We had similar challenges, but the city’s resolution does not lie in hiring foreign nationals in the JMPD to fight crime.

According to Sun, when fighting crime, one needs to understand which resources you have as a mayor to deal with crime. He noted that dealing with the victims was also necessary while addressing crime.

“He simply wants to address the one aspect, which is to prevent foreign nationals from speaking other languages in front of the police officers or to understand what they are saying. That, certainly, for me, will not resolve the crime.

“We certainly have many different ethnic groups, never mind the foreign nationals, in Joburg. One should need to look at how we enforce our laws,” Sun added.

Listen to the full interview on The Daily Round Up with Moulana Junaid Kharsany and Former Joburg MMC for Public Safety, Michael Sun, here.