Dada Morero’s proposal that the JMPD hire legal foreign nationals in order to address the problem of language hurdles hindering law enforcement’s ability to effectively combat crime has been turned down by Panyaza Lesufi.
(The Post News)- Panyaza Lesufi, the Gauteng Premier and African National Congress (ANC) Provincial Chairperson, has rejected a contentious proposal from Johannesburg Mayor and ANC Johannesburg Regional Chairperson Dada Morero, who suggested employing legally documented foreign nationals into the Johannesburg Metro Police Department (JMPD).
Morero proposed the idea at an ANC meeting, arguing that enlisting foreign nationals could be an effective way to overcome language barriers that impede law enforcement in areas with a large foreign population.
Lesufi took to his social media profile, X, to emphasise that Morero’s proposal did not reflect the aims and beliefs of the ANC’s crime prevention policies.
He also indicated that the ANC rejects the idea, and they spoke with Morero, who informed them that the ANC Johannesburg Lekgotla rejected his proposal, and he fully supports the decision not to pursue it further.
Lesufi emphasised that the ANC remains committed to ensuring that the law enforcement agencies are appropriately trained to confront the issues posed by crime, and they apologise for any confusion or distress caused by this proposal.
The proposal, which seeks to remove language hurdles in law enforcement, has aroused extensive debate and criticism among political parties, civic organisations, and the general public.
In a media statement issued by Action SA to indicate its position on the matter, it stated that it rejects this idea and would oppose it if it were ever brought before the council.
According to Action SA, this idea is undoubtedly an insult to the thousands of South Africans who still want to wear the uniform, notably the thousands of underutilized police reservists who are eager to serve.
Moreover, Action SA believes there are ways to address linguistic obstacles without resorting to the extreme option of hiring foreign nationals.
Following Lesufi’s post on X, most South Africans took the chance to express their views, with some doubting the proposal’s long-term implications and others supporting Lesufi’s position.
Some individuals, however, believed that the proposal demonstrated the need for more inventive measures to reduce crime in multilingual communities.
EFF in Gauteng also opposed the idea advocating that there should be investment done in training officers to navigate language and cultural barriers.
About the Author
