Police have got a right to protect
themselves- Chikunga
Media Statement
12 September 2011 National
Chairperson of the Portfolio Committee
on Police, Ms Sindi Chikunga has told
Mangweni community that police have the
right to protect themselves to avoid the
rise of police killings that are common
in the country.
Chikunga was speaking during an Imbizo
that was held in Mangweni Stadium in
Nkomazi Municipality organised by the
Department of Safety, Security and
Liaison in Mpumalanga on 12 September
2011.
After a number of complaints raised by
the community against police, Chikunga
told the community that they should
always respect the processes or the way
police operate because criminals or
suspects may act against police and kill
them.
“There is no way a police will not use
force when arresting a suspect or
criminal who has a weapon. It is the
right of a police officer to arm and
protect themselves and other community
members when dealing with criminals.
We cannot relax while our police
officers are being killed on daily
basis. Police officers are also
community members who have got families
and we must protect them” said Chikunga.
Raising complaints during the Imbizo was
a Community Police Forum member who said
that the CPF in Mangweni and around
Tonga will prefer to work with the
Tactical Response Team (TRT).
The member stated that the reason why
they will prefer to work with the TRT is
that they want to remove all the corrupt
police officers in the police stations.
He cried that when they tried to arrest
police officers who are corrupt, the
police will in return arrest them and
promise to kill them.
Responding to some of the complaints
that the community raised, Chikunga told
the Department of Safety, Security and
Liaison and SAPS that she wants a report
of all the complaints raised by the
community.
Speaking at the same event was Head of
Department (HOD) of the department, Mr
Thulani Sibuyi who encouraged the
community to report crime and testify in
courts so that all perpetrators of crime
are convicted.
Sibuyi encouraged community members not
to withdraw cases because criminals
should be prosecuted. He cited the
matter involving a departmental traffic
officer who allegedly shot another
person four times, and later the victim
was persuaded to withdraw the case.
According to the HOD, the department is
considering charging the traffic officer
for the misuse of the state firearm.
Other people who attended the Imbizo
included the deputy provincial
commissioner in the province, Major
General Thulani Phahla, National and
Provincial chairperson of the Community
Police Forum, Mr Mandla Mphuthi, the
mayor of Nkomazi Municipality, Ms Thuli
Khoza and national Members of
Parliament.
Enquiries: Joseph Mabuza
013 766 4055
082 678 1450
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