Deputy Safety and Security Minister Susan Shabangu’s controversial ”shoot to kill” comment has received African National Congress (ANC) president Jacob Zuma’s backing.
Speaking at the KwaZulu-Natal Institute of Local Government and Traditional Leadership’s fund-raising gala dinner on Friday night, Zuma said: ”If you have a deputy minister saying the kind of things that the deputy minister was saying, this is what we need to happen.”
Zuma pointed out that police had at one stage been ”asked not to shoot at criminals”.
”Because the fact of the matter [is that] criminals shoot police. Instead of talking at that level, we ought to be seeing action that we are tougher on the criminals. That’s the point I’m making.
”What the deputy minister was saying is what we are to be doing is dealing with the criminals rather than talking about it.”
Shabangu, who was speaking at an anti-crime imbizo (meeting) in Pretoria West, was quoted by the Pretoria News as saying: ””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.”
While her comments have sparked outrage among some and received the backing of others, the issue of crime has been raised repeatedly at several functions attended by the ANC president in Durban and Richards Bay during the past two days.
”You know, if you haven’t experienced crime, you can theorise about it, but for those that have experienced it, it is a painful thing,” Zuma said.
He said he had visited the Cape Flats and heard several horrendous crime stories. He added that many of those who felt strongly about crime had been victims themselves.
Addressing the media, he said: ”I’m hoping that when you write, [you] don’t sensationalise what I said. Use the words that say exactly what I say. I just hope the clarity is as clear as I put it.”
Rape and murder
Earlier on Friday, Zuma had said that the issue of bail for those accused of rape and murder needed to be debated. ”I don’t think we have debated the issue. Let us do something that favours the victim and not the criminal.”
Asked if he was personally in favour of rape and murder accused being denied bail, Zuma said: ”I’m not saying it’s my personal view. I want to say that these things need to be looked at.”
Zuma cited a number of examples where members of the public had questioned him about criminals being released on bail. ”I have not been able to give them answers. We over-stretch human rights sometimes,” he said.
He pointed out that once a murder had taken place, a person’s right to life had already been infringed. ”We need to look at the things we do that don’t favour the victim.”
He also said it was an ”open secret” that murderers released on bail often interfered with witnesses.
At the dinner, Zuma said he believed that education could play a major role in combating crime. If the country could tackle crime, health and education, many of its problems would be resolved.
He suggested that remuneration in these three sectors needed to be addressed. ”I don’t think we should be afraid to pay for those services,” he said. — Sapa