Posted on 11/12/2009 6:21:10 PM PST by bruinbirdman
Deputy police minister yesterday called on police to "shoot the bastards" as the country tries to bring its fearsome crime rates under control.
Despite outrage over the killing by police of a three-year-old boy at the weekend, Fikile Mbalula said innocent deaths were unavoidable.
Atlegang Phalane was hit in the chest when an officer who thought he saw a weapon opened fire.
According to reports his family were not allowed access to his body for several hours after the incident outside his home in Klipfontein, north of Johannesburg.
But Mr Mbalula told reporters at the parliament in Cape Town: "In the course of any duty the innocent will be victimised.
"In this particular situation where you are caught in combat with criminals, innocent people are going to die not deliberately but in the exchange of fire."
His comments will add to critics' concerns over the police's "shoot to kill" policy, but in a country where almost 50 people are murdered every day, declarations of toughness on crime are popular.
"We cannot say to the police, retreat," said Mr Mbalula. "We cannot say to South Africans, despair. Our job is to give people hope.
"Yes. Shoot the bastards. Hard-nut to crack, incorrigible bastards."
The ruling African National Congress has pledged to change the law to make officers' rights to use lethal force clearer, even though, as well as if lives are in danger, police are already entitled to shoot a fleeing suspect of violent or serious crime if that is the only way to arrest him.
If he dies the killing is classed as justifiable homicide.
(Excerpt) Read more at telegraph.co.uk ...
And just this week the UN declared July 18 as Nelson Mandela day.
This is what happens when the commies take over. And it’s only going to get worse as the ANC has not yet consolidated the revolution (ie reeducation camps, mass terror, genocide, etc).
And change!!! mmmm mmm mmmmm
Another liberal cause turned to crap
“This is what happens when the commies take over...”
...yep, and it’s also what happens when Whitey leaves...it’s been going on ever since European colonials started getting run out over 50 years ago.
I don't find 50 per day for a nation of 50 million people to be THAT outrageous, comparatively. It's high, but not "shoot the place up" high.
They must be trying to crack down leading up to the World Cup. I can’t imagine how PC the World Cup organizers must be to have awarded South Africa with the honor of hosting the World Cup.
Desmond Tutu’s paradise.
Desmond Tutu’s paradise
Perhaps, but from what I have heard, Desmond doesn’t even LIVE there anymore. I may be wrong, but I heard that he lives in an Atlanta suburb.
Somewhat ironic.
Probably not the bastard meant.
Mandela and the ANC have done wonders for South Africa. I used to think destruction like that couldn’t happen here, but now I know different.
Frankly, being very aware of the situation in South Africa, I have a hard time disagreeing with this pronouncement.
I have no idea what you are talking about, and I am guessing that you don't either. The problem is that folks in South Africa have finally had it with out of control violent crime, and apparently the solution struck upon by the police is to shoot fleeing violent felons. It is not exactly a procedure the ACLU would approve of, but a lot of folks here would approve of private citizens shooting violent felons in self-defense.
Ever been there? I thought not. Except for an excessive number of violent criminals (largely of Nigerian and more recently Zimbabwean origin) it is a beautiful country. It is not nearly as "screwed up" as you imagine it to be.
Why do you think that crime is out of control in a country that is ruled by the Marxist-Leninist ANC?
Oh, and I hope this is not just a hit and run...let us EXTENSIVELY reason together on this one, shall we?
Ever been there?
The World Cup is going to be in Johannesburg, not out in the beautiful country where the soccer players and the international fans are going to be at risk daily for muggings, rapes and everything else.
No big city is totally safe all the time but Johannesburg is among the worst.
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