Mpumalanga MEC Jackie Macie Tells Police to Fight Back When Confronted by Armed Criminals
- Mpumalanga Member of the Executive Committee Jackie Macie urged police officers to defend themselves with their firearms
- The Security, Safety and Liaison MEC made the remarks during Mpumalanga's Q1 crime statistics presentation
- The comments come amid a national debate over the use of force, with the acting Minister of Police previously cautioning against it
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Byron Pillay, a Briefly News journalist, has dedicated a decade to reporting on the South African political landscape, crime, and social issues. He worked as a newspaper journalist for 10 years before transitioning to online.
MPUMALANGA — Mpumalanga's Security, Safety and Liaison Member of the Executive Committee (MEC) Jackie Macie has told police officers to stand their ground and return fire when confronted by armed criminals.
Macie delivered the remarks at the presentation of Mpumalanga's first-quarter crime statistics for 2026/2027, held in Mbombela on Tuesday, 9 September 2026. He was responding to media questions about his position on police use of deadly force, rejecting the idea that officers should retreat in dangerous situations.
"It's simple. We apply the law. If you confront us, we cannot run away. Imagine a police officer running away.
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"Then what will the public say? Police are the last line of defence for the community. Imagine a cop running to the army barracks and telling the general that I ran away. When there is a fight, we must fight back. There is no two ways about it," he said.
Macie's comments reignite national debate over use of force
The MEC's statement came just two days after South Africa marked the deaths of 12 police officers killed in the line of duty, including one from Mpumalanga, at the SAPS National Commemoration Day held at the Union Buildings on Sunday, 7 September 2026.
His position also placed him at odds with the stance of acting Minister of Police Firoz Cachalia, who has resisted framing the issue as a "shoot to kill" mandate. Cachalia has said officers should not be second-guessed when dealing with violent suspects but must act within legal boundaries.
National Police Commissioner General Fannie Masemola previously expressed a similar sentiment to Macie in April, telling officers not to die with the tools and resources they were given.
Deputy Police Minister faces backlash over comments
Briefly News reported that Cassel Mathale warned police officers against using excessive force or violating the code of conduct.
The Deputy Police Minister said that some police practices were costing the State millions of rands.
Mathale's comments sparked backlash, with South Africans noting that police confront armed criminals daily.
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Source: Briefly News
