By Oyisa George
Following the horrific deaths of three police officers in KwaZulu-Natal, Gauteng, and Mpumalanga on the same day, it was added that the number of police killings in South Africa was increasing every day.
While visiting a friend in Khayelitsha on Sunday, a 37-year-old police sergeant who was not on duty was tragically shot.
According to crime data published in the previous quarter by Minister of Police Bheki Cele, 31 police officers were killed in the country in the three months between 1 April and 30 June.
Lesiba Thobakgale, the national spokesperson for Sapu, stated in an interview with Cape Town etc. that it is obvious that criminals have attacked the police, and that the situation appears to be only getting worse in response to the most recent incidents and the quarterly crime statistics.
“Police killings are continuing to grow in numbers and without a permanent solution to this crisis, we will continue to see it getting out of control, for the killing of one police officer is way too many. Sapu wants to see zero reporting when it comes to police killings for, they are also members of society that have families, and must be protected, says Thobakgale to Cape Town, etc.
Sapu called on the government and SAPS to label the killing of officers as treason earlier this year to prevent police killings. The union is firm in its call in light of these most recent events.
