Minister of Safety and Security Charles Nqakula said on Monday that he was very concerned about the serious and violent nature of crimes against ”soft targets”.
He said police action in high-crime areas sometimes drove criminals out to other areas and places considered to be soft targets.
”That is why we are pushing for more and better resources for local police stations so that there is no area in South Africa that could be regarded as a soft target,” Nqakula said.
He was reacting to reporters’ questions following the weekend shoot-out in Johannesburg that left four police officers and eight robbers dead.
He again repeated his statement that anyone pointing a gun at a police officer would be killed.
”There is nobody who points a firearm at another person, not unless they mean to cause harm … You don’t point a firearm and say ‘my intention was to be a good person’,” Nqakula said.
He said the bloodshed at the weekend’s incident was regrettable.
”It is better, always, that people who are criminals be arrested and prosecuted.”
But the situation required that police shoot back and he said they had every right to do so.
”When you point a gun at someone, you are not playing. You seek to cause harm to that person,” Nqakula said.
He said police had the right, when a firearm was pointed at them, to protect themselves ”by whatever way possible”. — Sapa