Phumzile Van Damme has come out in defence of her party’s stance to have farm attacks recognised as a priority crime, emphasising that the matter is not race-related.
The Democratic Alliance’s (DA) Phumzile Van Damme took to Twitter on Wednesday, 23 September 2020, to defend the party’s push to have farm attacks recognised as a priority crime. Van Damme was embroiled in an engagement with a user who agreed with her sentiments on Minister of Police, Bheki Cele’s alleged incompetence. However, the user then went on to suggest that farm murders are not a pressing issue, further criticising the DA for presenting it as a priority crime.
Following commentary on farm murders supposedly being a “white phenomenon,” Van Damme responded to the user, stating, “It is not just white farmers subjected to this. Black farmers too. In any case, the race of a person should not determine their protection from crime.”
She then claimed that Shadow Minister of Police, the DA’s Andrew Whitfield, is working hard at making sure that the matter is given the necessary attention.
See the posts below.
I find the flippant dismissal of farm murders unjust. It is a category of people targeted for what are often brutal murders. And no, it isn’t just white farmers subjected to this. Black farmers too. In any case the race of a person should not determine their protection from crime https://t.co/kLPOxNdkQI
— Phumzile Van Damme (@zilevandamme) September 23, 2020
I beg your pardon? MPs whose job it is to conduct oversight over SAPS to ensure that they’re doing their jobs to protect ALL SAns, and in particular vulnerable groups must keep quiet? Kahle bo wena. @DKB20 & @andrewhitfield having doing great work in this regard & will continue. https://t.co/cDDXIrsztZ
— Phumzile Van Damme (@zilevandamme) September 23, 2020
Sabelo Makhubo
s.makhubo@politicalanalysis.co.za
