ANC: SAPS needs clamp down on criminals

“There must be a way through which police deal deal with ordinary people protesting over issues of service delivery and criminals on the other hand; there is a difference between the two. There is no need to be heavy-handed on angry people in a protest,” commission chairwoman Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula told journalists at the NGC meeting in Midrand, Johannesburg.

She said the SAPS was in desperate need of adequate training and resources to be able to police efficiently. There should be a standardised training system.

“Policing is a national competence. We noted a trend where some metro police officers receive training by people outside of the country, and there is nothing wrong with that, but we say there has to be a standardised programme… we cannot have one province doing its own thing, we cannot allow anarchy. There has to be control over training,” she said.

The commission condemned mob justice and police killings. Commission member and State Security Minister David Mahlobo said the murder of a police officer should be declared high treason.

“Killers of police should face the might of the law and from South Africans,” Mahlobo said.

Turning to terrorism, Mahlobo referred to an alert issued by the US embassy to its citizens about possible attacks on them and US interests within South Africa. No one was under threat, he said.

“The threat of terrorism is everywhere globally, and we think the USA matter could have been handled differently. There is no threat facing non-South Africans living here; government provides necessary security measures.”

On recruitment by terrorist organisations, Mahlobo said government should ensure South Africa did not become a breeding ground for terrorists.