Threat to expose officers who assault people crushed

MBABANE – Suggestions to engage in behaviour that may compromise the law enforcement profession have been crushed.

This follows that some police officers threatened to expose those who assaulted members of the public.

The above sentiments were shared by junior police officers during one of their recent meetings, following the clash that happened at Montigny Investments last week.

They were deliberating on how best they could harmonise relations with members of the public in the midst of the situation, where they were being murdered.

The junior officers mentioned that if any of them did something bad to the public, they would take pictures of them and expose them.

According to the officers, it was wrong for officers to beat protesters but their duty was to maintain peace and protect property.

Betrayal

The junior officers said they could no longer tolerate betrayal from some police officers, who continued to brutalise the public even after the issue had been discussed. “We are trying to harmonise the situation here. How can we not sell out someone who has already sold us out?” questioned the junior police officers. According to the junior officers, the National Commissioner (NATCOM) of Police William Tsitsibala Dlamini and his Executive, would not protect them, but instead send condolences and pay E10. The officers mentioned that it was up to them to protect themselves by regaining trust from the public and assure them (public) that they would always be protected.

They stated that the officers, whose actions were similar to selling them out, were protected every time and their vehicles armoured as well. The junior officers stated that it showed that the officers were provoking a situation and when the targets retaliated, they suffered the consequences, yet they were exposed in their line of duty, working without bullet proof vests or pistols.

When reached for comment on the statements made by the junior officers, Police Staff Association Secretary General Sergeant Dumisile Khumalo said the matter had been addressed. Khumalo stated that it was resolved that they would not assault anyone during protest marches but escort them. She said if anyone was found to be committing crime in the process, they would be arrested not beaten.

She said basically police officers were going back to their mandate to protect life and property. Khumalo said the suggestion to expose police officers or taking pictures of them was crushed but they were warned not to brutalise members of the public. President of the Police Staff Association Sergeant Isaac ‘Kaira’ Lukhele shared the same sentiments with Khumalo. Lukhele stated that officers were angry and reacting out of emotions due to what they were experiencing. He stated that it was very wrong to sell out their colleagues.

The president said the junior officers had the duty to protect their colleagues, just like in other professions. “Selling out a colleague is not allowed,” he said.

He said exposing brutalising police officers was not a good thing and could even worsen the situation.

Lukhele said when protesters were voicing out their concerns, they should not be beaten. He said any officer at work had the duty to use their own discretion and also to take orders but it should be lawful ones as the Public Order Act, 2017 stipulated. He said law enforcers had the duty to protect members of the public and their property.

Meanwhile, Deputy Police Information and Communications Officer Inspector Nosipho Mnguni stated that police officers knew very well where to go when they had concerns or ideas on how they wanted to work.

Mnguni said she could not comment on the issue of sell-outs and how police officers worked.