Cop killings will not be tolerated
2013-03-18 16:02
Johannesburg - Those who attack and kill police officers
will be dealt with "decisively", Police Minister Nathi Mthethwa said
on Monday.
"We shall not tolerate any provocation of police
officers when they perform their duties," he said in a statement.
"There is no carte blanche to say people must attack
police. Hence we shall deal with such elements decisively and unapologetically.
So whoever wants to test the wrath of the law will meet its sting."
Mthethwa said the killing of police officers was a direct
threat to constitutional democracy.
He was responding to the murder of a metro policeman in
Daveyton on Sunday.
Ekurhuleni metro police spokesperson Wilfred Kgasago said
the officer was enforcing by-laws when he was punched.
A businessman was allegedly operating his food stall in
an area where he was not supposed to. Officers were towing his caravan away
when he allegedly punched one of them.
He fell and hit his head.
The officer died on the scene.
The man was arrested and due to appear in the Benoni
Mangistrate's Court on Monday.
Mthethwa on Monday criticised the "seemingly
deafening silence" from regular commentators, analysts, and opposition
parties following the officer's death.
"Where is the condemnation that normally accompanies
police brutality?" he asked.
"Has the life of a police officer in [a] modern
democracy been reduced to insignificance? We shall continue to fight crime
within the confines of the law. Coupled with this is our unmovable stance on
community-policing philosophy."
He was reacting to criticism relating to alleged police
brutality in recent months.
Cases of police brutality
In Marikana, North West, 34 striking miners were shot
dead by police on 16 August last year.
On 26 February, Mozambican taxi driver Mido Macia was
dragged behind a police van in Daveyton. He died later in police cells.
Last week, a North West policeman was arrested for
allegedly dragging a court interpreter next to his van in Setlopo village on 7 March.
Mthethwa said his department would continue to fight
crime "smartly and toughly".
"Almost each week we are criss-crossing the country,
urging communities to partner with the police, and we have received significant
support and undertakings on this quest," he said.
"We shall, therefore, not allow a minority of people
who think they can attack or provoke our officers. We shall not tolerate any
such lawlessness, which is unjustifiable."
Mthethwa said anyone who interfered with police officers
carrying out their duties would face a charge of obstruction of justice.
- SAPA
