Sapu demands action on Gauteng murder wave. Photo by Gallo Images
THE South African Policing Union (Sapu) in Gauteng calls on communities to come forward and expose criminals.
This after the union noticed a significant number of murder cases rising in the province, especially domestic violence or attacks on police.
According to the union’s Gauteng secretary Jabulile Mabaso, the safety of the province’s police members has also been compromised recently.
“It seems killing a person is an easy task that goes unpunished with no regard to human life. Criminals are compromising the safety of South African citizens. Thus, we advocate for the strengthening and functionality of community policing forums in Gauteng to work hand in glove with the police in exposing murders and police murderers,” said Mabaso.
She said that on Thursday, 22 August, a man and a woman were killed in a drive-by shooting incident on the West Rand in Gauteng while parked next to a police station gate.
“It’s alleged that a blue car drove by and fired shots at the parked car, which had two occupants who were declared dead on the scene. It was found that the female occupant was a SAPS member. This follows a murder and suicide incident where a woman belonging to the Traffic Department allegedly shot and killed her partner belonging to the same department,” said Mabaso.
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She said the reported deaths speak to the scourge of social ills that are faced by communities.
“There are matters of mental health that the Premier (Panyaza Lesufi) seeks to look into and have programmes that offer help to people with management issues,” she said.
Mabaso said that the Gauteng region stands firm in calling for the killing of police to be declared treason.
“In the Government of National Unity, we hope to see our cry being realised as an attack on the state as such attacks compromise the livelihood of the citizens,” she said.
Mabaso emphasised that the union is urging provincial law enforcement leadership to prioritise mental health support for police and monitor the support structures for effective job performance.
“We need to safeguard the law enforcement agencies and its members to make the province a better one for the members and the children who are the future leaders. A call for discipline and for stringent measures to be taken against those who commit murder is needed without fears a matter of urgency,” she emphasised.
Asive Dyani
www.snl24.com
