Phahlane approves of police’s response

THE acting national police commissioner Lieutenant-General Khomotso Phahlane is satisfied with the police’s response to the violence that flared up in most of the townships in Tshwane this week.

Violent protests, which claimed five lives, engulfed townships such as Hammanskraal, Ga-Rankuwa, Mamelodi, Atteridgeville, Mabopane and Soshanguve following the announcement of former cabinet member Thoko Didiza as the City of Tshwane’s mayoral candidate for the local government elections.

Some residents have remained resolute about wanting the current mayor, Kgosientso Ramokgopa, to have a second term at the helm of the city.

The violence that erupted evolved into a looting frenzy that saw many foreign owned shops and shopping centres such as Batho Plaza in Soshanguve and Central City in Mabopane closing down, while shops were looted and damaged.

Phahlane, who was addressing the media at Loate police station in Mabopane yesterday, said their response was adequate given the circumstances they operated in.

“This was an implosion that we didn’t anticipate. But we responded accordingly,” said Phalane.

Asked whether there were enough public order policing officers on the ground to contain the situation, Phahlane said the police had sufficient officers, but conceded that there was always a need to increase the number of policemen.

“There can never be enough officers. But our organisation is a growing organisation. It’s an organisation confronted with a lot of challenges and government has committed resources to us,” he said.

Earlier on in the day, law enforcement officers embarked on an operation in Mabopane and Soahanguve – two of the townships that were characterised by looting – in an attempt to retrieve stolen items from Central City and Batho Plaza shopping complexes.

“A total of 24 people were arrested during this operation, but the number might increase pending investigations,” he said.

“In some houses we found stolen goods, but there was no one there to arrest,” he said.

Phahlane said police will compile an inventory of the items that were retrieved and work with members from the business community to ensure that they claim what belongs to them.

“It is regrettable to find ourselves in this situation. What kind of people are we that go on looting sprees?

“We found items ranging from shoes, furniture, cement, clothes, fridges and everything you can think of during the operation,” he said.

Asked if any arrests had been made regarding the two deaths that occurred at Central City Shopping Complex on Wednesday,

Phahlane said: “It is not clear yet, but investigations are underway. We need to conclude our investigations to be in a better position to comment on the matter,” he said.

tankiso.makhetha@inl.co.za