Police Minister Senzo Mchunu said police involved in fatal shoot outs with criminals are doing what they were trained to do, keeping themselves alive using their firearms. He also highlighted the importance of officers doing this within the perimeter of the law.
Police Minister Senzo Mchunu has acknowledged a report about suspects killed in police shootings, emphasising that officers should not be reckless.
Mchunu, in an interview with the Sunday Tribune following an article that was published last month, said that police were professionals and should use their firearms responsibly.
He expressed concern about the article's message but acknowledged the freedom of the press.
Mchunu highlighted the importance of understanding the context of shootouts and holding officers accountable for recklessness.
He addressed rumours about a specific officer, stating that the police had not received any complaints and would investigate any wrongdoing.
Mchunu emphasised that no officer was above the law and any misconduct would be dealt with accordingly.
While social media has dubbed the Provincial Police Commissioner, Lieutenant- General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi "The Terminator", for his tough stance on crime, Mchunu said that the police's duty was to uphold the law and ensure that police stations function effectively.
He said that public opinion was acceptable as long as it did not accuse the police of breaking the law.
Mchunu also mentioned a case of alleged mistaken identity where a Durban businessman survived a shooting by police officers. He reiterated the importance of understanding the events leading up to shoot-outs and holding officers accountable for any reckless behaviour.
“The SAPS has about 153 000 police that work in terms of hierarchy and where one policeman or two act outside of the law, they will be dealt with accordingly. I had not received any complaint from anyone until about four or five weeks ago. We are looking at those matters.
“Whenever there is any individual case that comes to us about any police officer, ordinarily there is IPID and we refer cases to it. We also encourage people to report wrongdoing on the side of policing,” said Mchunu.
The minister assured the public that any complaints against police officers would be thoroughly investigated and referred to the Independent Police Investigative Directorate (IPID). He discouraged the notion of any officer being above the law and emphasised that any misconduct would be dealt with accordingly.
Mchunu said that the police were committed to upholding the rule of law and ensuring that police officers act within the bounds of their authority. He encouraged the public to report any wrongdoing and assured them that their complaints would be taken seriously.
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