Comments on: Mbalula, I salute you

By: Abel

Abel — Thu, 24 Mar 2011 12:29:12 +0000

@ siswe mqobo

The author was, at the time, serving as the secretary to the ANC study group on police. Guess he is in the right position to make comments on issues pertaining to the police, don’t you think?

By: Obzino Latino

Obzino Latino — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 13:19:19 +0000

It is refreshing to take note your objectivity regarding your analysis of current affairs – sometimes I just get sick visiting this blog space because many commentators here are simply predictable i.e. always winging how this transitional democracy is so bad in not doing this or that – its so boring at times – thanks to you Shareef

By: Alan in Botswana

Alan in Botswana — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 12:53:59 +0000

Do you think potential visitors for 2010 will be impressed by this instruction to shoot first and ask questions later? Maybe visitors from Somalia and Nigeria will feel a little safer, but I doubt your average first worlder will.
Still, this is supposed to impress South Africans not visiting foreigners.

By: The Gadfly

The Gadfly — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 10:29:43 +0000

If you have worked closely with the SAPS you will no doubt be very aware that the majority of them are ill-educated and not competant enough to stand guard at a school, let alone make a descision on who to shoot or not. I have had extensive experience and am absolutely sh1ting myself that I will be stopped at a roadblock and while reaching for my drivers liscence be shot (reaching for a gun).

The SAPS has been a great employment place for anyone – their credentials hardly ever checked

The cause of crime is not a gun or a need for shooting but poverty, bad education and a lack of jobs. Create the means to a job through better education and most of your problems will be solved.

It will not be long before the list of cases against the SAPS for wrongful shootings will outweigh those of criminal acts – not that a police shooting of an innocent bystander is not criminal in itself.

Giving badly trained, ill educated and badly motivated policemen an order to shoot, will only end in a very bad pace and i hope i do not become one such statistic .

By: Lehlohonolo Phadima

Lehlohonolo Phadima — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 07:31:01 +0000

Isn’t your comparison with a justification on Israel’s indiscriminate violance on innocent palestinians in bad taste?

By: Michael Francis

Michael Francis — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 21:05:13 +0000

I wish we could trust the police to do their jobs. I have witnessed people being beaten by the police for reporting prostitution in the neighbourhood as well as armed thugs demanding bribes at the border.

http://www.thoughtleader.co.za/michaelfrancis/2009/07/13/corrupt-police-at-the-lobatse-border-post/

If the crime is not tackled it will scupper the future of South Africa and damn many people to a brutal death at the hands of the criminals and probably at the hands of a few cops as well.

There is a deep seated mistrust and even hatred of the police in SA that also needs to be dealt with. Allowing them to shoot more freely is not a good idea.

By: KC

KC — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 15:17:33 +0000

So the Government says it will kill you if it thinks or suspects that you are a criminal (only a court can pass a “guilty” verdict), and you accept this because know you are not a criminal right? But then you happen to be mistaken for one and bang! You are a statistic. Of the innocent people killed so far none posed any danger to the police and yet unrestrained fire-power was directed at them (the innocent). Some policemen are now said to be using the “shoot to kill” to settle outstanding grudges or carrying out paid assassinations. In this way the police force is feared, even by the innocent law-abiding citizens. Mbalula’s statement was as naïve as it is dangerous. Public statements made by the Minister, his deputy and even the President incorrectly creates the impression that the police cannot use force or kill, if circumstances allow, to effect arrest or defend themselves and others. It would seem though that the proposed amendment to section 49 isn’t so much that the police must shoot to kill, but that they must be absolved from any responsibility.

By: Move on dude

Move on dude — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 14:30:04 +0000

Shareef your comment to your own blog explains a lot…your are yet another weak link in the ANC chain…goodbye

By: Pieter

Pieter — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 14:29:11 +0000

I just wish if you were news paper reporter/writer Moegamat. Great staff!!

By: Lionel Byrne

Lionel Byrne — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 14:26:54 +0000

@ Kholekile..
well done sir I have the same feeling as you ,
There are bad apples everywhere ..but also a lot of good ones as well .We must support our police. South Africa is ours, folks lets help clean it up ,there is no other way