From a shouting match with a police minister to part of a crime-fighting organisation to leading the parliamentary police committee, Ian Cameron is no shrinking political violet.
Being told to “shut up!” in an outburst by former police minister Bheki Cele brought Cameron to prominence. Since then his commitment to highlighting some of South Africa’s most shocking incidents of crime, and his willingness to challenge police bosses, have earned him the respect of community policing groups and even the police. In his new role as chair of the parliamentary police committee, he plans to carry on the good fight.
It was in July 2022, during a police imbizo in a hall in Nyanga, Cape Town, that Cameron, as a member of Action Society, raised issues of crime in an area rife with it. Cele was outraged by a question from Cameron. “I’m not going to take any nonsense from someone who regards me as a garden boy ... shut up, shut up, shut up!” Cele shouted at him.
A year later, parliament’s ethics committee ordered Cele to apologise; nothing came of it.
Since 2019 Action Society has worked with communities affected by crime and on reform of the justice system. It wants to ensure the government is held accountable for its failure to protect people, especially women and children. Communities in Mitchells Plain on the Cape Flats welcomed assistance from the group, especially with investigations of the murders of young women.
Cameron, who was also AfriForum’s head of safety and its campaign for justice in farm murders, left Action Society to join the DA as an MP and now heads a committee that can summon anyone, including the police minister, to account to it. It gives him a chance to influence policing policies and practices, a role for which his experience suits him.
“It’s a big privilege and very different. You suddenly have to communicate more objectively and you have to have a fair approach,” Cameron tells the FM.
A parliamentary oversight meeting with the country’s police commissioners, Cameron says, provided an opportunity to engage on the latest crime statistics. “These statistics provide a stark reflection of the challenges we face in ensuring the safety and security of South Africa,” he says.
Cameron admits there is no quick fix to the crime problem but also believes building a relationship with police minister Senzo Mchunu and deputy ministers Polly Boshielo and Cassel Mathale is crucial. “We have not minced our words; so far it’s been positive,” Cameron tells the FM.
It’s a big privilege and very different. You suddenly have to communicate more objectively and you have to have a fair approach
— Ian Cameron
After the police were criticised for shooting suspects, especially in KwaZulu-Natal, Cameron emphasised the need for a balanced approach that addresses policy and the challenges faced by police on the ground.
In August, national police commissioner Fannie Masemola said: “It is no secret that our men and women in blue are up against heavily armed criminals who have no regard for the rule of law.”
Cameron defended the police and said it was easy for “armchair critics”, but the danger the police face is the reality of the country.
“Police must be open to criticism and do introspection, but those who criticise must put themselves in the shoes of the police. I know [suspects] shoot at police. I have heard the shots. I have been there. It’s unfair to give a one-sided version,” he says.
His committee has been vocal that oversight, especially from the Independent Police Investigative Directorate, must ensure accountability and transparency within the police force.
KZN police commissioner Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi tells the FM: “I have never met Cameron before but he has called me, telling us we are doing good work, and I appreciated that.”
Cameron says he has not stopped being an activist and tries to walk with community policing groups in gang-infested areas or use his free time to engage with the men and women on the ground who have to deal with crime.
“I love being on the ground … it’s the only way you know what is going on and get a sense from police officers,” he says. He believes that maintaining a direct connection with communities is crucial to understanding the challenges faced by the police and to improving relations between law enforcement and citizens. By engaging with those on the front lines, he hopes he can bridge the gap between law enforcement and the people they serve.
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