Minister of Justice Thembi Simelane. (Photo by Brenton Geach/Gallo Images via Getty Images)
Justice Minister Thembi Simelane said police could not be expected to act like they were “on a picnic” when confronting criminals, nor could they be expected to “arm themselves with spoons” in a gunfight. said.
“We're talking about police officers on the battlefield, so we want them to act like they're at a picnic, but I don't think that's the case.” [the message] We want to … send it to the police,” Simelane told reporters on the sidelines of a meeting of the Police and Prison Civil Rights Union (Popcle) on Thursday.
“Our constitution has measures in place and if there is someone suspected of going too far, the Independent Police Investigative Directorate is there. I will clarify the situation in my room.”
Mr Simelane spoke following recent criticism from crime experts who accused KwaZulu-Natal police of being heavy-handed in arresting criminals. There are frequent reports of police in the state getting into gun battles with armed suspects.
In August, provincial police commissioner Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi said police were not only dealing with theft offenders, but also murder offenders.
“We are at war. When we, as police, wage war against criminals, professionals must give us space. This is a battlefield and we are fighting. We are negotiating and fighting. “I haven't,” he said.
Simelane defended Mkhwanazi's position on Thursday, saying he had never heard police say “we have to kill suspects mercilessly”.
“I heard him say that if police are to confront criminals, they must be empowered to face situations equivalent to the ones they find themselves in in order to solve crimes. I heard it,” she said.
“When someone has a gun, you can't confront them with a teaspoon. That doesn't work.”
Mr Simelani said KwaZulu-Natal was not the only province where police were being forced to respond to violent criminals.
“If you go to the Eastern Cape, there have been arrests and criminals shooting at police.
“What we as a criminal justice system want to understand is that police are people too. They have constitutional rights,” the minister said.
“The police are not irresponsible, otherwise you wouldn't be alive. I don't know how many police officers you passed today. They just shot you and you were lying dead and the next will shoot past the cops. [person]. They don't do that. ”
