Shongwe urges Breyten woman not to call police “dogs”

Media Statement
09 May 2011

Mpumalanga Safety, Security and Liaison MEC Vusi Shongwe has come hard on a Breyten woman for calling police “dogs” saying she was disrespectful and insulting.

Responding to the community’s questions during an Imbizo at Breyten, 30km north of Ermelo, MEC Shongwe said although people were furious about police behavior in the area, they should not be bad-mannered when talking in public.

One of the women who had attended the department’s public participation meeting, told the crowds that the police were not treating community members equally when they opened cases. She said when she committed crime, police officers came running, however when it was her turn to be assisted, police were not helpful.

She subsequently publicly called them “dogs” to the elation of the people.

“Not all the police are bad, but some of them are ‘dogs’ because they are only interested in getting salaries, instead of helping us as people,” she said.

Other people also accused the police of racial bias saying the police were quick to attend to crime scene where white farmers were affected by crime.

They explained that police would flock with numerous vehicles including helicopters, but if it was a black person they would come hours late or sometimes complain about lack of vehicles.

They told the MEC that the farm owners continued to abuse their human rights by denying them access to the roads to the shops and clinics. They asked government to intervene because even the police were not working effectively at the farms.

Responding to the issues raised, MEC Shongwe urged the people not to call the police “dogs” as they were employed to protect the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa.

He conceded that some police officers were tarnishing the good image of the police service, however the community should report them to their superiors so that they would be flushed out of the system if found guilty.

“Police are human beings just like all of us. They must therefore be respected in their profession. We cannot call them dogs. Let us refrain from such degrading words because they will make people not to believe in them.

“They have blood just like all of us; they feel the pain in their bodies too. Those who are not loyal and passionate about servicing the people should be reported,” said Shongwe.

He further appealed to the police to exercise impartiality when executing their duties as this would assist in improving the relationship between the community and police.

He said taverns close to schools would be closed down because they affected the learners’ education.

Shongwe called on the communities to partner with government in the fight against crime as Mpumalanga had a population of 3.6million which is supposed to be policed by few police officers

“We have declared war on crime; we do not want to reduce, but to eradicate it completely. We can achieve that only if there is a good relation between the community and the police,” Shongwe added.

He added that the province would have safe elections as police would be deployed all over the province to ensure free and fair voting and counting.

“Law enforcement agencies in our province are more than ready to ensure that elections are not going to be disrupted,” concluded MEC Shongwe.

Meanwhile the police told the MEC that copper theft was a major crime that dominated Msukaligwa sister municipalities as over 70 percent of the community was unemployed.

They added that the lack of street lights and street numbers made it difficult for them to do their work. They said municipal demarcation and magisterial districts also affected policing in the area.

Issued by Mpumalanga Department of Safety, Security and Liaison

Enquiries: Joseph Mabuza
013 766 4055
082 678 1450