Police must act decisively against criminals: Mashatile

Acting President Paul Mashatile says that police officers must take decisive action against criminals.

Mashatile made the comments at the South African Police Service (SAPS) commemoration for the 39 police officers who lost their lives while on duty between April last year and March this year.

Mashatile says that while police officers must defend themselves, they must do so according to legal provisions provided in the constitution.

“General Fannie Masemola, police officers must not die with their service firearms on their holsters when criminals refuse to surrender and start firing at police. When a shootout ensues between police and criminals, police have a duty to protect their lives, as well as those of their colleagues and all community members.”

Since 2021, a total of 140 police officers have died in the hands of criminals while performing their official duties.

Mashatile says that an attack on a police officer is an attack on the state and equal to treason.

He further told families of the slain police officers that they should find comfort in knowing that their loved ones will never be forgotten.

“These police officers who died while protecting South Africa and her people are not just a statistic. They are husbands, wives, mothers and fathers, brothers and sisters, sons and daughters and most of them were breadwinners of their families.”

National Commemoration Day | Acting President Paul Mashatile speech