Government Failure in Protecting Citizens
CCN Reporting
CAPE TOWN:- While a brave dog named Tina recently helped uncover the horrifying truth behind the disappearance of a 7-year-old child in Khayelitsha, the real tragedy goes deeper 
– South Africans continue to pay the price for a government that does not priorities public safety.
Tina, a biological fluid detection dog from the Cape Town K9 Unit, sniffed out what no human could, concealed bloodstains and a mop used to clean up a crime scene. Thanks to her handler, Warrant Officer De Jager, and Tina’s incredible instincts, vital evidence was found. But while we applaud these heroes, the question remains; why do we have so few of them?
In a province overwhelmed by gang violence, drug abuse, and unspeakable crimes against women and children, there are only three SAPS biological fluid detection dogs and just one SAPS narcotics dog active in the entire Cape Town metro.
That’s not a shortage – that’s a crisis.
Meanwhile, the City of Cape Town, under a different level of leadership, manages to maintain four trained narcotics dogs. One of them, Virus, recently played a major role in a high-profile drug bust. This proves that when resources are allocated correctly and leadership is held accountable, real change is possible.
But the national government continues to ignore the calls for decentralizing police powers, leaving local authorities – who know the people and the challenges best – with their hands tied. This neglect not only undermines justice, it actively endangers millions.
We cannot expect a safer South Africa when our justice system allows criminals to be arrested and released within hours on bail, often returning to the very communities they terrorized. We cannot win the fight against crime when our front-line heroes, both human and canine, are left without the backup they need.
Tina may have brought closure to one family, but she also exposed a brutal truth: our safety is not a priority for the national government.
