Bheki Cele gives Mpumalanga’s police officers a tongue-lashing

The minister of police, Gen Bheki Cele, said the provincial crime statistics do not a tell a good story and this needs to change. “Mpumalanga is losing its comfort zone of fighting crime. This is one province that we have not been looking at when we fight crime. You are losing it. We have always dealt with Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal, the Eastern Cape and Western Cape. I do not want Mpumalanga to join them.”

Cele was addressing law enforcers and the media at Nelspruit Rugby Club on Tuesday. The police minister said, “We are here to intensify.”

When addressing the law enforcers who were in attendance and will be part of those who will be working during the festive season, he said they need to use their tools to enforce the law.

He added that police are allowed by the law of the country to use deadly force.

“As you protect your own rights and the rights of everybody, if you need to maximise the protection, do so. That is why you have tools. We give teachers chalk, we give doctors stethoscopes and we give you tools.

“Those are not for playing, they are for you to do the job. You do the work thoroughly, yes, within the law. When criminals engage you, when the dust has settled, we are there to pick up the pieces. We are not there to pick up the dead bodies of the police. I refuse. It must not be us picking you up from the scene, we are not AVBOB and we are not a mortuary. That must be very clear and so, you must go protect the nation,” Cele said.

This is part of his nationwide Safer Festive Season Operations inspection tour under the theme #OperationTightGrip.

“As we move from here, criminals must feel some heat, women must be free, women must be safe, communities must be safe and young women must be able to walk the streets without fear. They must be able to walk freely, no matter the time of the day. “Your instruction comes from the Constitution of the land. Your job is to protect and investigate, but more than anything the inhabitants must be safe. You are law enforcers, you are not here to negotiate the law.

If you see anybody break it, you enforce it. You enforce the law in several ways. All the forces must work together to make sure that the festive season is a festive holiday for the people of Mpumalanga and people of South Africa.

“Your murder statistics are not telling a good story. I am not going to give out figures, but it is not a good story. Theft, house robberies, burglaries, the abuse of women, grievous bodily harm, rape and social offences are increasing. That is not the picture we want to see, and that is not the picture we must tolerate.

“We have agreed with the deputy minister of police, Cassel Charlie Mathale, to come spend time here and find out where are we losing it. The operation for the festive season is called Tight Grip. I do not see a tight grip, I see a loose grip. We cannot have a loose grip around criminals. “You must tell me why do you allow criminals to take over, why do you smile with criminals and why do you go to romance with criminals? Why do you allow criminals to have space, why don’t you squeeze them and make sure that they are not part of us?” Cele said the law enforcers must also behave themselves.

“I love the blue uniform you are wearing, but if you think you do not love the blue uniform, we don’t mind giving you the orange one,” he said.

He also urged all law enforcement officials to ensure that they protect themselves from both crime and the Covid-19 pandemic.

“Human rights are for you to protect the rights and lives of South Africans. You as the law enforcers and as the police are South Africans too. Your rights must also be protected. You must defend the lives of the citizens, but you must also protect your own. If your life or the lives of the people are under threat, you must use deadly force. This is according to criminal procedure 49.”

He urged the public to be responsible during the festive season due to Covid-19.

“By 22:00, all businesses must be closed. If they are not, the business is suspended for seven days and if it happens again, the suspension is three months. The curfew is 23:00. If the the passengers in a taxi are not wearing a mask, you must arrest the driver. If you break the law of your business, you get a R5 000 fine. There was a time when new infections were 14 000, they went to 100, but now they have increased again to 8 000 daily.

“There must be no parties and no after tears parties after the funeral. If anyone hosts an after tears, give him/her a tear,” he explained. He was joined by the deputy national commissioner of policing, Lt Gen Sehlahle Fannie Masemola, the provincial commissioner of police, Lt Gen Mondli Zuma, and other top management of the SAPS.

The tour was aimed at the inspection of law enforcement for festive season operations as well as to raise awareness with motorists and community members. This included visiting shopping malls and centres, public spaces such as taxi ranks and other areas with social gatherings.