Police deaths: Mthethwa's comments distasteful and insensitive

It is disappointing that the Minister of Police, Nathi Mthethwa, has chosen to use the tragic killings of police officers in Mitchells Plain and Khayelitsha as an opportunity to score cheap political points by essentially blaming the Western Cape Government for their deaths. His comments today were distasteful, insensitive and an insult to the grieving families of these police officers (see here).

The DA extends its condolences to the families and friends of the police officers and trusts that their murderers will be brought to book.

The only people to blame for the deaths of our police officers are criminals who have no respect for the police. The Minister would do well to pay more attention to this fact rather than insensitive and cheap politicking.

The DA calls on the Minister to retract his comments and stop abusing his position to make irresponsible statements. Instead, he should be proactive and launch an investigation into the causes and extent of police killings.

The DA will request that Minister Mthethwa be summoned to Parliament to account for what he will be doing to better protect SAPS officers in the Western Cape and elsewhere in South Africa such as KZN which has also experienced an upsurge in the murder of police officers recently. The rampant criminality must come to an end. 

Police officers are crucial members of our community. They risk their lives on a daily basis. Their protection is fundamental to ensuring our protection. The Minister should focus on this fact rather than political point-scoring.

Statement issued by Dianne Kohler Barnard MP, DA Shadow Minister of Police, July 29 2013

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