Community Safety
With reference to his response during the House sitting of 1 August 2019:
(a) How many members of the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) were diverted from the Cape Flats to participate in a police raid on the occupiers of the Woodstock Hospital in the early hours of the morning of 25 July 2019, (b) why was the SANDF present during this raid, (c) who requested that the SANDF participate in this raid, (d) what were the circumstances that required the SANDF to support the SAPS and the metropolitan police, (e) who approved or ordered the SANDF to participate in the raid, (f) who were the people disguised by balaclavas who were part of the raid, (g) was the raid on the occupiers of the Woodstock Hospital requested by the provincial government or by the City of Cape Town and (h) what allegations or crimes prompted the raid on the occupiers of the Woodstock Hospital?
The South African Police Service informed me as follow:
3. (a) No members of the SANDF were diverted from the Cape Flats – Operation Lockdown continued with allocated resources from SANDF.
(b) A cordon and search operation was conducted and some members of the SANDF were utilised for outer perimeter protection.
(c) The Woodstock SAPS Station Commander requested assistance in the conducting of the cordon and search operation.
(d) To ensure the effective execution of the cordon and search operation with sufficient outer perimeter resources. The serious nature of crimes and complaints received by the Station Commander warranted deployment of sufficient resources.
(e) Joint role players during the weekly planning meeting.
(f) SAPS specialized units.
(g) The request was made by Woodstock SAPS Station Commander.
(h) Complaints were received from the community. Since occupation of the building there has been anti-social behaviour around the building including drug activities, gun shots as well as an increase in burglaries and violent crimes in the area.
