'Use Deadly Force': Bheki Cele Tells Cops After 6 Officers Killed
- Police Minister Bheki Cele has reiterated his calls for officers to use 'deadly force' to defend themselves if necessary
- Cele was speaking at the send-off for Constable Ndlovu, a Durban police officer who was shot and killed
- According to a statement by the Police Ministry, six police officers were killed in a span of 10 days
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The Police Ministry has released a statement condemning the violence against police officers and urging cops to use 'deadly force' to defend themselves. The statement comes after six officers were killed in a space of 10 days in the country.
Police Minister Bheki Cele was delivering a keynote address at Durban officer Constable Ndlovu's send-off when he said it was a dark time for police:
"Let me remind police officers that when they go out there to enforce law and order, the law is on your side to respond decisively when confronted by criminals and use deadly force to defend yourself."
Source: Getty Images
According to the statement, two officers were ambushed, shot and killed on Saturday morning in Kraaifontein. This comes days after three off-duty and one working officer were killed in KwaZulu-Natal.
Cele also mentioned that communities have a role to play in flushing criminals out. The minister stated that the criminals committing heinous acts come from the communities they serve. Cele also spoke about civilian deaths, touching on the murders in Mitchell's Plain.
Briefly.co.za earlier reported that four men were shot and killed while a fifth was wounded in another shooting in Mitchell's Plain. The shooting comes just days after five teenagers were shot, two of whom were killed. The two who succumbed to their injuries were a 13-year-old and an 18-year-old boy and the three wounded teenagers were aged between 14 and 18.
SAPS have now confirmed that a task team has been set up. They have also appealed to the community to work with authorities by coming forward with any information that could lead to arrests. No arrests had been made at the time of this report.
A report by IOL stated that the chairperson of the Cape Flats Safety Forum, Abie Isaacs, said on Sunday that there had been a rapid increase in shootings in the area over the previous 92 hours, adding that there is 'urban terror' in the Cape Flats.
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Source: Briefly News
