Ian Cameron says Ramaphosa’s GBVF plan is ‘physically impossible’
Cameron says corruption, capacity constraints will make implementing such plans difficult.
Parliament’s Portfolio Committee on Police Chairperson, Ian Cameron, has criticized President Cyril Ramaphosa's claims regarding the police’s ability to tackle gender-based violence and femicide (GBVF). The President has set 60 days for police and prosecutors to identify unresolved cases and 90 days to develop recovery plans, but Cameron asserts these commitments are "physically impossible".
He argued that even with the President’s political will, the internal capacity of the police is inadequate to achieve the goals. Cameron highlighted the discrepancy in resources, stating that police receive almost R900 million less for family violence, child protection, and sexual offences compared to VIP protection. He questioned how the President believes these commitments will be met.
Furthermore, Cameron pointed to the Auditor-General’s latest report, which revealed significant challenges contributing to police case backlogs. The report found that DNA testing equipment remains unused due to missing essential supplies, and the police face supply chain issues and poor management. Cameron noted that some contracts in the forensic sector remain unused due to non-renewal and poor sustainable development planning. These factors, according to Cameron, will continue to exacerbate the backlog of cases.
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