National Police Commissioner Riah Phiyega has ordered that green “identity” cards, equated to apartheid era “dompasses” be withdrawn with immediate effect in the Western Cape town of Worcester.
Phiyega however also admitted that police had long been aware of the use of the green cards before they were exposed by the media this week.
Phiyega, who was probed on the issue by the National Assembly’s police portfolio committee, told MPs that Worcester police station managers had only ordered the withdrawal of green cards that bore the SAPS logo.
The green cards have been condemned by political parties, who said they had no place in a democratic society, after it emerged they had been largely issued to black workers and job seekers in predominantly white suburbs whose residents had not been issued with such cards.
The Worcester Community Policing forum issued the cards in July last year in response to rising crime levels within the suburbs.
MPs asked Phiyega to explain why it appeared the controversial green cards enjoyed the backing of members of the SAPS management.
ANC MP and committee chairman, Francios Beukman, said: “We need to ensure that all South Africans are able to walk the streets freely.”
Phiyega said she started investigating the matter on Tuesday and found that the green cards were an initiative of sector four of the Worcester Community Policing Forum.
She said that it was a “CPF-type arrangement, together with the participation of Sergeant Plaatjies”.
The police commissioner yesterday assured the committee that all green cards would be withdrawn immediately.
“It is our belief that each and every South African has the right to walk the streets and the soil of this country,” said Phiyega.
Beukman said steps needed to be taken to ensure that a “clear signal” was sent to Plaatjies over his support of the system.
Phiyega withdraws ‘dompasses’
Phiyega however also admitted that police had long been aware of the use of the green cards before they were exposed by the media this week.
Phiyega, who was probed on the issue by the National Assembly’s police portfolio committee, told MPs that Worcester police station managers had only ordered the withdrawal of green cards that bore the SAPS logo.
The green cards have been condemned by political parties, who said they had no place in a democratic society, after it emerged they had been largely issued to black workers and job seekers in predominantly white suburbs whose residents had not been issued with such cards.
The Worcester Community Policing forum issued the cards in July last year in response to rising crime levels within the suburbs.
MPs asked Phiyega to explain why it appeared the controversial green cards enjoyed the backing of members of the SAPS management.
ANC MP and committee chairman, Francios Beukman, said: “We need to ensure that all South Africans are able to walk the streets freely.”
Phiyega said she started investigating the matter on Tuesday and found that the green cards were an initiative of sector four of the Worcester Community Policing Forum.
She said that it was a “CPF-type arrangement, together with the participation of Sergeant Plaatjies”.
The police commissioner yesterday assured the committee that all green cards would be withdrawn immediately.
“It is our belief that each and every South African has the right to walk the streets and the soil of this country,” said Phiyega.
Beukman said steps needed to be taken to ensure that a “clear signal” was sent to Plaatjies over his support of the system.
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