A PUBLIC hearing on the proposed new integrated criminal justice system was held last week at the Mbekweni community hall.
It gave the public the opportunity to address the committees on the impact that crime has on them.
Concern on how the police operate and how the criminal justice system works were some of the issues that were highlighted by residents attending the meeting.
A resident of D-Block in Mbekweni, said the police had done nothing after attackers tried to rape his daughter.
“My daughter was nearly raped. I managed to frighten away her attackers, but when I reported that to the police they said that they could only react if someone was raped,” he said.
Another resident told the meeting that she had been attacked, but the police did not react effectively.
“I phoned the police, but they told me there were no vehicles available. I went to the police station myself and then found them standing outside smoking, with the whole yard full of police vehicles,” she said.
The parliamentary portfolio committees on Justice and Constitutional Development, Safety and Security, Correctional Services and the select committee on Security and Constitutional affairs attended the meeting.
The hearing also dealt with the victim’s charter which deals with the rights and obligations relating to services applicable to victims and survivors of crime in South Africa.
The problems relating to the implementation of domestic violence legislation and the improved channels of communication between local law enforcement officials and the communities they serve, were discussed.
The improvement and the functioning of community policing forums also came under the spotlight.
Jonas Sibanyoni, a member of the parlementary justice committee, said that the public in the future would be more involved in the battle against crime.
“After examining the situation, several changes in our justice system will be implemented,” he said.
