Cwele welcomes suspension of cops
2013-03-01 16:18
Johannesburg - Acting Police Minister Siyabonga Cwele
welcomed on Friday the suspension of police officers allegedly involved in the
death of a taxi driver.
"All police officers have a duty to fight crime and
those who are not worthy of wearing our badge and uniform, must know that they
have no place within SAPS [SA Police Service]," he said in a statement.
"We view this incident in [a] serious light and we
would want to see stern action taken against those involved. We want stern
action so that it may send a message to other officers that any untoward
conduct will not be tolerated."
Cwele is acting minister while Minister Nathi Mthethwa is
on official leave until 12 March.
Mido Macia, 27, a taxi driver and Mozambican national,
was tied to the back of a police van and dragged along a street in Daveyton, on
the East Rand, on Tuesday.
An eyewitness filmed the assault. Macia died in the local
police station's cells later that day.
National Police Commissioner Riah Phiyega said on Friday
that eight officers were suspended and the Daveyton police station commander
was removed pending investigations into the incident.
"We are equally outraged with what happened,"
Phiyega told reporters in Pretoria.
Cwele called for calm in the Daveyton community.
"The philosophical orientation of our goal is to
realise that the [SAPS]... is one of the most central of all the institutions
of the democratic state," he said.
"What this philosophy means is that, our police
officers must be seen and see themselves as guardians of human rights
generally, and the Constitution in particular."
The DA also welcomed the suspensions.
"Suspending the police officers pending the outcome
of the various investigations is the only sensible thing to do, in support of
upholding the law and protecting citizens from rogue cops like those
involved," DA Gauteng MPL Kate Lorimer said.
Phiyega commended
The SA Policing Union (Sapu) commended Phiyega for her
actions against the officers.
"Those members don't just deserve suspension, they
will have to face the music both departmentally and criminally," Sapu
general secretary Oscar Skommere said.
"This kind of brutality has no room whatsoever in
the SAPS. We commend General Phiyega for this kind of leadership. The good
image of the police is tarnished by ruthless elements like these."
Phiyega said that from video, which had gone viral, it
was obvious Macia's rights were violated.
"The behaviour displayed in that video, when
committed by police who are expected to serve and protect, is to be abhorred by
all right-thinking people."
She had instructed that an internal investigation in
terms of police disciplinary procedures be initiated immediately.
Phiyega urged all witnesses to come forward and
co-operate with the investigation.
"The conduct of the members clearly goes against the
values that the SAPS represent. All SAPS members are expected to respect and
uphold the law at all times and avoid at all costs any conduct that makes us
violators of the law," she said.
"The behaviour of the suspended members is therefore
condemned in the strongest terms."
- SAPA
