Concern over senseless slaughter of cops
POLICE unions have expressed concern over “senseless” police killings after a series of murders were reported.
In the past 10 days, six police officers have been killed, which has led to the police ministry calling for communities to intensify their fight against crime.
In the Western Cape, two police officers suffered gunshot wounds to their heads while on routine crime-prevention duties in the early hours of yesterday morning.
Last week, in Pietermaritzburg, KwaZulu-Natal, two police officers, Sergeants Makhosazane Mdlangathi and Mfikelwa Mtolo, died in a hail of bullets after being ambushed by gunmen.
Another officer in the province was buried yesterday after being fatally wounded when he responded to a domestic abuse complaint in Chatsworth.
Yesterday, the Police and Prisons Civil Rights Union (Popcru) said police killings was of serious concern, and can no longer be overlooked.
“It requires communities to also fully participate in jointly ensuring the safety of our residential areas. Part of the problem can be attributed to the challenges of under-staffing and the uneven allocation of resources to these men and women in blue.”
Popcru said police stretching their operations across a broader number of communities in smaller groups increases the likelihood of being attacked.
“These and other escalating violent trends against our men and women in blue have not only adversely affected individual police officers, but are aimed at generating fear and lawlessness throughout society. These attempts must be nipped in the bud. The best possible way is by improving community-policing relations.”
While delivering the keynote address at a ceremony for fallen officers, Police Minister Bheki Cele told mourners that the latest police killings have left those in the service shocked and shaken.
“It is a dark time for us in the police right now, but we will not be deterred by these cowardly acts.
“Let me remind police officers that when they go out to enforce law and order, the law is on your side to respond decisively when confronted by criminals and use deadly force to defend yourself.”
Cele called for harsher punishments for crimes committed against the police, stating that members in blue were national assets that must be protected at all costs.
The SA Policing Union (Sapu) appreciated the distress expressed by Cele. It was of the view that the killing of police officers should be considered as treason against the country, and therefore deserved the attention of President Cyril Ramaphosa.
“Sapu is calling on President Ramaphosa to declare police killings a priority crime to address the problem with the urgency that it deserves.
“Sapu has been calling for stricter bail conditions and for lengthy prison terms, including life imprisonment with no option of parole, in the past for alleged police killers but would also want to see all other possible options discussed by the SAPS and Minister of Police.”
The union criticised National Police Commissioner General Khehla Sitole, saying he has not done anything while his own troops are slaughtered.
“Sapu has not seen General Sitole doing anything about the alarming high rate of police killings during his time in office. To the contrary, when there are so-called high profile murder cases, General Sitole will order the activation of the 72 hours’ re-action plan.
“It is worrisome that the national commissioner will only react swiftly when there are so-called high profile cases and fails to do anything when it is one of his own who are killed.”