The Police and Constitutional Democracy

It is with great concern that the HSF notes the recent raid by the Crime Intelligence Unit of the South African Police Services on the offices of the Public Protector. The raid follows on the heels of a damning report released by the Public Protector into irregularities connected with a tender for the lease of new police headquarters.

These actions pose a serious threat to the rights of both individual citizens and the Chapter Nine Institutions mandated to protect those rights under the Constitution. So far, the Police and the Ministry in charge of the Police have been unable to proffer a reason for the raid taking place, or the person who gave the authorization. This goes against the letter of the Constitution and it fuels the growing perception that the Police may be being used for political ends. This cannot be allowed to stand. 

The public demands an explanation for these actions, which in the light of his apparent ignorance of what his subordinates are doing at any one time in turn casts doubt on the suitability of Gen. Bheki Cele to hold the position he currently occupies,

It was only last year, at an HSF Symposium on Criminal Justice, that the remilitarization of the police was raised. This was deemed to be regressive by Appeal Court Judge Azhar Cachalia, and has begun to undo the good work in restructuring the Police Force into a Police Service after 1994.

The HSF calls on the Minister of Police to show some leadership in dealing with this latest infringement of rights. 

Statement issued by the Helen Suzman Foundation, March 4 2011

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