DA offers reward for information on deaths of women in South Africa — Daily Maverick
In Ekurhuleni, South Africa, the Democratic Alliance (DA) party has offered a reward of 500,000 rand for information that helps secure the conviction of those responsible for the deaths of nine women. Their bodies were found in less than two months, Daily Maverick reports.
The body of the ninth woman, Jabulile Ntimba, was discovered on September 17 in the Dawn Park area. Police announced the creation of a multidisciplinary team to investigate these cases. Two suspects in the Ntimba case appeared in court on September 21.
Rewards will not be combined
The DA's offer came several days after the South African Police Service announced its own reward of 400,000 rand for information leading to arrests. Deputy National Police Commissioner Tebello Mosikili said the two rewards could not simply be combined because of rules governing contributions to the police and the inability to involve the service in political matters. She suggested that the party work with police to increase the official reward.
DA leader and Cape Town mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis defended the party's decision, saying that substantial rewards could encourage people from criminal networks to provide information to investigators. He also called on businesses and those able to do so to contribute to the reward.
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Promises to reform the municipal police
Ahead of the local elections on November 4, the DA is using the issue of security in its campaign for control of Ekurhuleni. Hill-Lewis and the party's mayoral candidate, Hathutshelo Rasilingwane, propose reforming the EMPD municipal police, strengthening the presence of law enforcement officers in crime-prone areas, and conducting lifestyle audits of all senior officers.
Hill-Lewis called the current EMPD “deeply corrupt” and “deeply compromised,” and also referred to allegations concerning the municipal police made at the Madlanga Commission. These are political claims by the DA leader. The party also promises to improve street lighting, the security of transport stations, parks and pedestrian routes, make more active use of surveillance cameras, and monitor the effectiveness of these measures.
Rasilingwane said residents of affected communities are concerned about insufficient police visibility. She also said that a significant number of EMPD vehicles are in repair workshops, which, she said, worsens the problem of insufficient law enforcement presence.
