The South African Police Service has always endured harsh criticism for being ineffective, but lately, that seems to be changing. Have they had enough? We track the gory trail of dead perpetrators.
According to Business Day, 108 police officers were killed during the 2007-2008 financial year. Many people questioned the competency of the police, while simultaneously decrying the cold-heartedness of the killers.
Some are fortunate enough to escape, but many aren't so lucky, such as 38-year-old police officer Oupa Masilela, who was gunned down outside his home in December 2008. His 7-year-old daughter said he had instructed her to lie down in an attempt to shield her.
Taking back the streets
This year has seen a turnaround, however, with many suspects being blasted in a hail of gunfire.
On 21 January 2009, five suspected robbers were killed and four arrested after they reportedly opened fire on police in KZN. The Western Cape was not exempt from these incidents. On 28 January 2009, two robbery suspects were killed and one wounded in Kraaifontein following a police chase.
The most recent shooting to raise eyebrows was that of eight robbery suspects killed in a shoot-out with police in KwaZulu-Natal on 30 January 2009. This shoot-out also resulted in three bystanders being wounded.
A tough question
Reactions are strongly divided, with one group supporting the killing of criminals and the other condemning it. But one has to ask the question: is this justice? Is this gung-ho approach, as advocated by Deputy-Minister of Safety and Security Susan Shabangu in April 2008, worth it? In a country where 20 000 people are murdered each year, it's easy to see why this approach is being advocated.
Criminals get away on technicalities and sentences are short, resulting in many criminals spilling into society once again.
The ineffective justice system, high incidence of violent crime and poorly-resourced police force results in spiralling crime rates – so perhaps this really is the only solution to the problem.
In the age of criminal lawsuits against the Saps, many police officers are asking, "Why should I follow the rules if criminals have more rights than what I do?" This raises the issue of criminal rights – why should police officers have to fire a warning shot when criminals can get away with shooting a cop in the head? Is a criminal's life really more important than an officer of the law?
A complicated situation
But it is not as clear-cut as you may think – Sure, you could "shoot the bastards" but doing so raises a number of not-easily-ignored ethical questions.
One concern is that the police force could become judge, juror and executioner all rolled into one. While many people are desperate enough to rely on this strategy, questions will undoubtedly be raised when their children are killed whilst "resisting arrest" or are caught in the cross-fire. An incident in Mpumalanga where a pupil was killed by a policeman's ricocheting bullet on 30 January 2009 serves as an unfortunate example of this.
The 30 January shooting in KwaZulu-Natal also serves as a stark reminder that not everyone is an enemy. In this particular instance, the eighth suspect is believed, by forensic experts, to have been an innocent worker.
More eyebrows would be raised if would-be shoplifters were found riddled with bullets as a result of police abusing the declaration. Giving police carte blanche to kill opens society up to the potential of brutality reminiscent of the Apartheid security forces.
This directive could also potentially create a more favourable breeding-ground for corruption and violence within the police force, with officers potentially silencing each other and civilians over money, drugs and information. Surely there are more viable solutions to this issue…
Questions are often raised about the possibility of alternative solutions. Non-lethal weaponry is often no match for the high-powered assault rifles and pistols employed by these pseudo-paramilitary thugs. Perhaps police officers need to be better equipped and trained. Perhaps paying police officers and security guards more than what they're currently earning will reduce the need for them to seek cash elsewhere.
After years of enduring their colleagues being killed, the South African Police Service has turned the tables on criminals. With 490 people dying in police action during the 2007/2008 financial year, according to the Sunday Tribune, it looks like the current solution simply leads to more bloodshed.
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