Deputy Minister of Safety and Security Susan Shabangu told police that they should kill criminals if they threaten police or the community, the Star reported on Thursday.
”You must kill the bastards if they threaten you or the community. You must not worry about the regulations. That is my responsibility. Your responsibility is to serve and protect,” Shabangu said at an anti-crime imbizo in Pretoria West on Wednesday.
Shabangu, who received a standing ovation, was responding to questions on what police and the government are doing to curb crime.
Residents of Danville, Pretoria West, Lotus Gardens, Hercules and Elandspoort complained about the ”pathetic excuses” given by police allegedly unable or unwilling to deal with crime.
”I want to assure the police station commissioners and policemen and women from these areas that they have permission to kill these criminals.
”I won’t tolerate any pathetic excuses for you not being able to deal with crime. You have been given guns, now use them.”
She added that there should be no warning shots.
”I want no warning shots. You have one shot and it must be a kill shot. If you miss, the criminals will go for the kill. They don’t miss. We can’t take this chance.
”Criminals are hell-bent on undermining the law and they must now be dealt with. If criminals dare to threaten the police or the livelihood or lives of innocent men, women and children, they must be killed. End of story. There are to be no negotiations with criminals.”
She said law-abiding people and not the criminals must be protected.
”I say that criminals must be made to pay for their crimes. The Constitution says criminals must be kept safe, but I say No!” she said. — Sapa