‘South Africans Are Not Safe,’ Warns Police Committee Chair Ian Cameron

South Africa is facing an escalating crisis of violent crime, with the chair of Parliament’s Portfolio Committee on Police, Ian Cameron, delivering a blunt assessment: “We are not safe in this country.”

Speaking during a Peace and Security Cluster meeting on Monday, Cameron raised urgent concerns about the rising murder rate, the insecurity of whistleblowers, and failures in the justice system to protect vulnerable individuals.

Daily Murders Becoming Normalised

“Between 60 and 70 people are murdered every day. There’s nothing normal about that,” Cameron said.

He recounted visits to violence-plagued communities like Mitchells Plain in Cape Town, where gunshots rang out during public meetings.

“Just in the last two weeks, while you’re in a meeting, you hear gunshots going off a few blocks away,” he said.
“We certainly shouldn’t accept it as the norm.”

Whistleblowers and Witnesses Left Exposed

Cameron also slammed the state’s failure to protect whistleblowers and witnesses, saying their safety is an afterthought in South Africa’s justice system.

“Very few of us have any form of additional layered security,” he said bluntly.
“Even within the NPA, prosecutors themselves don’t have the protection they need.”

His comments follow repeated outcries from civil society about the high-profile assassinations of whistleblowers, and ongoing threats against activists and witnesses in corruption and criminal cases.

A Fragile Decline in Murders

Although the latest crime statistics indicate a marginal decrease in the murder rate, Cameron urged caution in interpreting the data.

“It’s good if there’s one less life lost, but we’re not at a point where we are winning.”

He argued that a small drop in murders is no cause for celebration, especially when many communities are still living under siege.

Mounting Public Pressure

Cameron’s remarks come amid a wave of public frustration over crime and policing failures, with questions growing around police leadership, resource allocation, and the effectiveness of government anti-crime strategies.

Cameron’s message is clear: South Africa cannot afford to normalise violence, and systemic reform is needed to restore safety and accountability.

{Source: The Citizen}

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