Mbalula talks tough on ‘rogue elements’ in force

POLICE Minister Fikile Mbalula has warned police officers still loyal to General Berning Ntlemeza that they were “doing illegal operations” if they still obeyed his orders.

The new police minister was speaking at the SAPS training academy in Pretoria yesterday following his first 25 days in office.

Mbalula said he was aware of “rogue elements” within the police still loyal to Ntlemeza and who were undertaking operations he considered illegal.

“I am aware about their operations working in safe houses to undertake operations against the minister of police‚” he said. “I am aware of them and I am coming for them.”

He warned that illegality country must end.

“We don’t allow rogue police officers using state resources to undermine the state. We can’t allow that‚” he said. “Those illegal operations you are undertaking in safe houses‚ those safe houses must chase criminals and not chase law-abiding citizens. I am not going to allow that.

“You must chase criminals. I want criminals behind the door [in jail]. You are working 24 hours to do an illegal operation‚ we are not going to allow that.

“The law is protecting me and I am going to unleash the law to ensure that I achieve the mission to deal with rogue elements masquerading as intelligence officers‚ doing rogue things in this country.”

Mbalula fired warning shots at those he deemed to be “rogue elements” saying he was coming after them with the full might of the law behind him. in the

He warned “there is a new sheriff in town” and that he was there to uphold the law. He also told police to “shoot to kill” if they came under fire from criminals.

“Police must be ruthless against those who are armed … But what I am saying is if they are shooting at you‚ you shoot back‚” Mbalula said. “Shoot to kill.”

In an update on strategic planning of the police‚ he said the SAPS would escalate “the war against crime”.

Mbalula said police were currently developing a policy which would act as a guideline for officers on when to use force.

“We will meet fire with fire‚” he said. “We will shoot to protect the innocent‚ we will shoot to protect ourselves and members of the force.”

Mbalula acknowledged that crime was “a major battle” for society‚ but as part of the strategic planning under his leadership he wanted to ensure the demilitarisation of the police.

He said specialised units such as the Public Order Policing and the Tactical Response units would receive the necessary training to “address perceptions” that they were militarised.

“The TRT will be used to deal with dangerous criminals. We will meet them head on in terms of our specialised units‚” Mbalula said.

“Criminals can run‚ but we will find them. They must not mix with ordinary members of the community.”

Among other strategies the minister said had been adopted at a recent strategic meeting was an anti-gang strategy‚ means to improve the detective services‚ improved criminal investigation and special attention to deal with serial rapists and murders. — TMG