Presidential Blue Light Bullies: Mugabe-like thuggery becoming ANC trademark
I will, this morning, undertake an oversight visit to the Mowbray Police Station to investigate the circumstances surrounding the arrest and detention of Chumani Maxwele, the 25 year old UCT student who was arrested at gun point by President Zuma's VIP protection officers last Wednesday evening (see report). He had allegedly gestured at the President's motorcade. On the facts available, it appears that Mr Maxwele's constitutional rights may have been violated by the SAPS. I will investigate the matter and take further action as necessary. Following the visit to the Mowbray Police Station, I am scheduled to meet Minister of Police, Mr. Nathi Mthethwa, at noon today. I will raise the matters arising out of my oversight visit directly with him.
The tactics employed by the Police remind us of the tactics of the Apartheid-era security police. Mr. Maxwele was allegedly arrested at gun point, had a bag pulled over his head, and was then subjected to a torrent of insults and intimidation from police and intelligence officials over a period of 24 hours, while National Intelligence Agency officers raided his house. These are the tactics of a police state, not a democracy. They are reminiscent of Robert Mugabe's Zimbabwe, that the ANC is increasingly trying to emulate.
This is just the latest in a series of shameful incidents involving VIP unit officials. In June 2008, a VIP officer on Jacob Zuma's armed convoy fired three shots at the vehicle of an 84 year old motorist who was deemed a "threat". Later that year, in November, a VIP officer attached to the KwaZulu-Natal Social Development MEC's security detail shot the tyre of a Mazda that did not move quickly enough out of his way, causing a head-on collision with a bakkie. On that occasion, at least six other people were injured, but the driver simply sped off. Then in January last year, a VIP officer on Kgalema Motlanthe's cavalcade shot an unarmed motorist after he "got too close" in the traffic, and officers subsequently seized and deleted material from a SABC cameraman who recorded part of the incident. In another incident in April last year, a VIP unit officer on his way to collect the Mayor of Msunduzi spat in the eye of a woman motorist.
What all of these incidents share in common is that not one single officer has been brought to book. The VIP officer responsible for firing at the 84 year old motorist escaped punishment in January this year; the officer in KwaZulu-Natal has used a high-powered lawyer to get the case stuck in the courts; no arrests were made over the man being shot in the arm (instead, the police arrested the victim); and no subsequent action has been taken over the Msunduzi incident either. The DA won't allow this to happen again, we will ensure that those responsible are held to account.
Under the ANC, there is one law for Jacob Zuma and his cronies, and another for the rest of the country.
Further, I will ask my colleague Dianne Kohler-Barnard MP, DA Shadow Minister of Police, to do the following:
- To today visit both Rondebosch and Mowbray Police Station (she has agreed to do this early this morning, and will be available for comment)
- To call before the Portfolio Committee for Police, the Minister and the relevant officials responsible for the VIP Protection Unit
- After consultation with the victim, to register a complaint with the Independent Complaints Directorate
- To put to the Minister of Safety and Security, and the President, Parliamentary questions on this matter
- For the office of our Leader in Parliament, Athol Trollip, to register this incident with the Presidential Hotline
- After undertaking visits to the two police stations, to consider whether or not to lodge a complaint with the Public Protector.
Statement issued by Democratic Alliance leader, Helen Zille, February 17 2010
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