Note to Broadcasters: Please find linked soundbites in English and Afrikaans by Cllr John Adonis.
The DA in Vryburg is concerned by the slow pace of the local SAPS in the investigation into the disappearance of Selwyn Vry. To date, there has been little progress in bringing justice to the Vry family.
Selwyn Vry was reported missing on 26 August last year. He is a well-known resident of Colridge-section. His family members immediately reported his disappearance to the local SAPS, yet almost seven months later there is no trace of his whereabouts.
The slow progress in this case is indicative of the lack of resources and the poor training of police officers. Dedicated police officers are hamstrung by the ANC government’s failure to adequately capacitate them to fight crime.
The Vry family is not only traumatised by Selwyn’s disappearance, but also by the tardiness of the police investigation.
On Friday, 15 March 2024, the DA, together with residents, staged a picket at the Vryburg Police Station and submitted a memorandum to the Acting Station Commander, Captain Mansuiana, calling on the police to:
• Question all persons with whom Selwyn was seen within his last 24 hours before his disappearance again;
• Conduct a forensic re-examination of the residence where he was last seen;
• Finalise all outstanding forensic reports as a matter of urgency; and
• Request specialised missing persons SAPS assistance.
We also wrote to the North West Provincial Police Commissioner, Lieutenant-General Sello Kwena, to ensure that the assistance required is made available so that resources are unlocked to try everything possible to reunite Selwyn with his family. See letter here.
Residents increasingly fall victim to crime and the SAPS should take all possible steps to serve and protect communities, and where crime does take place to effectively respond and investigate to ensure justice is done.
The DA stands with North West residents who increasingly fall victim to crime. This year, a DA vote is a vote for safer communities. The DA in government will ensure that police officers are fully supported with training and resources to effectively fight and investigate crime.
