Note to Editors: The following declaration was made by RISE Mzansi National Assembly Caucus Whip, Makashule Gana MP, during the Consideration of Budget Vote 28 (Police), during a sitting of the National Assembly.
I repeat Mutshami wa Xitulu, I RISE to put the 7th Administration and the Minister of Police on notice.
The people of South Africa are not safe, we are not safe. Spending R4-billion to protect politicians can never be justified. The programme of VIP Protection needs to be reviewed urgently.
As RISE Mzansi, we want to see the budget allocated for the protection of politicians to be redirected to protect the people of South Africa.
As RISE Mzansi we want to see the reallocation of funds from protecting politicians to eliminate illegal guns in our communities.
As RISE Mzansi we want to see the reallocation of funds from protecting politicians to hunting down and arresting the drug dealers in our communities.
As RISE Mzansi we want to see the reallocation of funds from protecting politicians to increasing the number of detectives so that arrested criminals can be successfully prosecuted.
We will support this budget for now, but next year we will refuse to be part of what future generations will see as negligence in failing to protect the people of South Africans against criminals.
Instead of spending billions to protect politicians, let this budget work to protect the people of South Africa. We all deserve to be safe.
I RISE!
Ndza khensa!