The DA welcomes a commitment by KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) Premier, Thami Ntuli to exploring additional security measures – including the installation of surveillance cameras and heightened monitoring of bridges – following the tragic death of a Pietermaritzburg woman at the weekend.
Madhumathie Bunwarie was killed after a car battery was thrown from a bridge near Westville, smashing the windscreen of the vehicle she was travelling in while returning home from a family funeral.
The DA is extremely concerned that such horrific acts of violence are still continuing years later, with no real intervention from authorities. First, we saw the throwing of rocks at vehicles on major routes and now car batteries are being used to cause death and destruction.
This lawlessness is a clear indication that criminals have no fear of police services or the consequences of breaking the law. Their despicable actions are also a shocking indication of the lack of respect for other lives.
The DA calls on the Premier to make good on the promises made during his budget speech earlier this year. This includes tackling crime more robustly.
We further call on him to increase the visibility of Metro Police, the South African Police Service (SAPS) and KZN’s Road Traffic Inspectorate (RTI) at all hot-spots in our province. He must also ensure that authorities strictly enforce the law and make swift arrests that lead to the successful prosecution of perpetrators.
The people of our province must be able to move freely without fear while innocent lives cannot continue to be lost due to heinous crimes.