'Shoot to kill': Yes or no?
2008-04-10 08:49
Pretoria - Deputy minister of safety and security Susan Shabangu said that residents should "kill" criminals, especially those who put lives in danger.
Shabangu was speaking at an imbizo at Elandspoort High School in Danville, west of Pretoria, on Wednesday.
After the media asked her for more clarity on her statement, Shabangu explained that South Africans should act more strictly towards criminals and not give them a chance to turn on innocent people.
"The police cannot calmly talk to criminals who shoot at them or wait until a police officer dies before reacting," she said.
"I want to assure the police station commissioners and policemen and women from these areas that they have permission to kill these criminals.
"I won't tolerate any pathetic excuses for you not being able to deal with crime. You have been given guns, now use them.
"I want no warning shots. You have one shot and it must be a kill shot. If you miss, the criminals will go for the kill. They don't miss. We can't take this chance.
"Criminals are hell-bent on undermining the law and they must now be dealt with. If criminals dare to threaten the police or the livelihood or lives of innocent men, women and children, they must be killed. End of story. There are to be no negotiations with criminals.
"The constitution says criminals must be kept safe, but I say No!
"I say we must protect the law-abiding people and not the criminals. I say that criminals must be made to pay for their crimes," she said.
Do you agree with her statements? Do you feel it is irresponsible to encourage police to act outside of the law? Do you feel this is simply an attempt to swing voters? Or do you think this represents a shift in the government's policies towards crime? Have your say.
Disclaimer: News24 encourages freedom of speech and the expression of diverse views. The views of users published on News24 are therefore their own and do not necessarily represent the views of News24. News24 editors reserve the right to edit or delete any and all comments received.