Musina residents vent over porous borders, crime at public hearings on new intelligence bill

CAPE TOWN - Musina residents have vented their frustrations about South Africa’s porous borders and related crime on day one of public hearings on a new intelligence bill. 

The General Intelligence Laws Amendment Bill is designed to overhaul the operations of state security and set new parameters for vetting and spying on individuals. 

But frustrated with security in the town closest to the border with Zimbabwe, Musina residents have instead lashed out at corrupt police and border officials. 

Chairperson of Parliament’s ad hoc committee on the General Intelligence Laws Amendment Bill, the African National Congress (ANC)'s Jerome Maake  explained the bill was intended to address shortcomings in the intelligence sector as identified both by a high-level panel and the Zondo Commission of inquiry into state capture. 

But frustrated residents have gone off tangent, using the platform to vent their frustrations about poor policing. 

"What we see around here, police, intelligence officials not doing what they are supposed to do, you will find maybe the government is not paying them enough, that’s why they are taking bribes." 

They’ve also lumped much of the blame for crime in the area on foreign nationals. 

"They bring guns, they get arrested today, or commit crimes, from there they cross the border, go back to their place, commit a crime in their place and the following day they come back here."

The hearings will continue in Tzaneen on Tuesday.