"Shoot to kill" comments gets strong reaction
By Nadia Samie
11 April 2008
The Deputy Minister for Safety and Security Susan Shabangu’s recent comments that police must “shoot to kill” continues to draw strong reaction.
Shabangu said to police at an anti-crime imbizo in Pretoria this week, "You must kill the bastards if they threaten you or the community. You must not worry about the regulations. That is my responsibility. Your responsibility is to serve and protect."
While the impassioned plea – in response to the community’s remarks that police were performing poorly – earned her a standing ovation, it’s got lawmakers and human rights activists up in arms, with some claiming that the comments are tantamount to inciting the police to break the law.
Shabangu told her audience: “I want to assure the police station commissioners and policemen and women from these areas that they have permission to kill these criminals. I won't tolerate any pathetic excuses for your not being able to deal with crime. You have been given guns, now use them. I want no warning shots. You have one shot and it must be a kill shot. If you miss, the criminals will go for the kill. They don't miss. We can't take this chance.”
The Human Rights Commission's Jody Kollapen says that, while the commission shares the concern of the deputy minister and South Africans at the high level of violence in the country, they are concerned about the comments made by Shobangu.
"We have given the police in our country the powers to shoot and kill. But they are meant to exercise those powers within the law and they should only use those powers when necessary. We think the current laws are adequate to enable the police to deal with crime and we don't need to send out irresponsible messages to them, which will only get them into trouble with the law if they simply shoot to kill irrespective of what the issues are."
On Friday morning radio stations were bombarded with calls from listeners – many of whom spoke up in defence of Shabangu’s comments, saying they are, “sick and tired of crime”, and “criminals need to be dealt with in a harsher manner”. One irate caller accused the justice system of failing citizens, hence she condoned the “shoot to kill” thoughts of the deputy minister.
11 April 2008
The Deputy Minister for Safety and Security Susan Shabangu’s recent comments that police must “shoot to kill” continues to draw strong reaction.
Shabangu said to police at an anti-crime imbizo in Pretoria this week, "You must kill the bastards if they threaten you or the community. You must not worry about the regulations. That is my responsibility. Your responsibility is to serve and protect."
While the impassioned plea – in response to the community’s remarks that police were performing poorly – earned her a standing ovation, it’s got lawmakers and human rights activists up in arms, with some claiming that the comments are tantamount to inciting the police to break the law.
Shabangu told her audience: “I want to assure the police station commissioners and policemen and women from these areas that they have permission to kill these criminals. I won't tolerate any pathetic excuses for your not being able to deal with crime. You have been given guns, now use them. I want no warning shots. You have one shot and it must be a kill shot. If you miss, the criminals will go for the kill. They don't miss. We can't take this chance.”
The Human Rights Commission's Jody Kollapen says that, while the commission shares the concern of the deputy minister and South Africans at the high level of violence in the country, they are concerned about the comments made by Shobangu.
"We have given the police in our country the powers to shoot and kill. But they are meant to exercise those powers within the law and they should only use those powers when necessary. We think the current laws are adequate to enable the police to deal with crime and we don't need to send out irresponsible messages to them, which will only get them into trouble with the law if they simply shoot to kill irrespective of what the issues are."
On Friday morning radio stations were bombarded with calls from listeners – many of whom spoke up in defence of Shabangu’s comments, saying they are, “sick and tired of crime”, and “criminals need to be dealt with in a harsher manner”. One irate caller accused the justice system of failing citizens, hence she condoned the “shoot to kill” thoughts of the deputy minister.
Comments