IFP: Difficult to trust cops after shooting
2012-10-16 20:21
Johannesburg - It is difficult to trust police deployed in KwaMashu after the killing of an Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP) member outside court, the party said on Tuesday.
"The minister of police [Nathi Mthethwa] should deploy police from other provinces to keep calm in areas of political violence in KwaZulu-Natal, clearly police from the province cannot be trusted," said spokesperson Albert Mncwango.
He said the IFP was shocked and disgusted by the police who were present when its member Siya Dlamini was shot dead outside the Ntuzuma Magistrate's Court on Monday.
He said police watched the drama unfold without doing anything while they were deployed there because of the volatile political situation.
"Our SA Police Service's behaviour is disappointing and proof that they cannot be trusted if a person can be killed like that in front of them."
He alleged that a National Freedom Party (NFP) member produced a gun while police were watching and fired two shots without them "raising a brow'.
"In other countries something like this would have not happened in the presence of the police.
"They would have not watched a person being shot at and killed in front of them.
"The police would have taken drastic steps to save that life and secure the safety of all the people present.
"But with our South African police anything as shocking as yesterday's killing is possible."
He said the party was also shocked by NFP leader Zanele Magwaza-Msibi's reaction to this incident.
"Instead of condemning her people who are targeting and killing IFP members, she rather asked for deployment of soldiers to the hostels."
National Freedom Party (NFP) spokesperson Nhlanhla Khubisa condemned the killings.
"The NFP abhors violence and condemns political killings. We condemn violence and we ask the KwaZulu-Natal police commissioner and the MEC for public safety... to deploy more police into KwaMashu."
Government said on Tuesday it was shocked by the shooting, and condemned the use of violence in solving conflicts.
"This incident is highly regrettable especially in a democratic country. Government conveys its deepest condolences to the family and friends of the deceased," acting government spokesperson Phumla Williams said in a statement.
"Political parties and the public in general are encouraged to engage in dialogue to resolve differences and to uphold the laws of the country."
The man accused of shooting dead the IFP supporter outside the Ntuzuma Magistrate's Court was expected to appear in the same court facing murder charges on Wednesday.
- SAPA