Bheki Cele declares war on crime
NEWLY appointed Police Minister Bheki Cele yesterday hit the ground running at Ngcobo in the Eastern Cape, declaring a war on criminals and calling on police not to die while “having guns in their hands”.
Cele was addressing mourners at a sombre memorial service for five slain police officers and an off-duty soldier in a packed local Methodist church. He went there to address the mourners before being sworn in as the new police minister.
The six were killed in a bloody shootout at the local police station last Wednesday morning in an attack by over 20 thugs.
The attack, according to local police, was orchestrated by Thandazile Mancoba from the controversial Mancoba Seven Angels’ Church Ministries. Thandazile is among the seven who were shot dead by police special task force team members on Friday night.
Before Cele could make his address, mourners erupted in applause, with some chanting slogans “Bheki is back!”
Cele told mourners that police were not funeral undertakers waiting to bury their colleagues.
“This must come to a halt. Police exist to protect society. We cannot be burying one another.
“The bottom line is that no criminal must wreak havoc on police and innocent people. Fight force with force. (In school) teachers have got chalk to do their jobs. As police you have got guns, please protect yourselves,” said Cele.
Turning on the controversial Mancoba Seven Angels’ Ministries Church, Cele said: “This is not a church but a crime scene. This church will be an indefinite crime scene.”
Cele applauded the special task force team, saying they must do the same thing again when facing dangerous criminals.
He even said the number of dead criminals was “too little” compared to what the gang did to police.