People who threaten to disrupt the much-awaited Soccer World Cup in June will face the full might of the law, Police Minister Nathi Mthethwa warned on Monday.
“Any criminal or would-be criminal who threatens the safety of the 2010 Fifa World Cup will meet the full might of the force,” he said.
“We will not be subjected to such unbecoming behaviour and will not tolerate this nonsense,” said Mthethwa.
He said a number of groups and protesters had used the soccer tournament to bargain for their demands. Mthethwa said a group of reservists who marched in Port Elizabeth last week had threatened to make the make the 2010 Fifa World Cup ungovernable if their demands were not met.
Mthethwa was speaking in Durban, where police destroyed more than 10Â 000 firearms from KwaZulu-Natal and the Eastern Cape. He was joined by police National Commissioner Bheki Cele.
Mthethwa said the destruction of firearms was to ensure that all communities could feel safer.
“The duty we undertook this morning [Monday], the destruction of 10Â 444 firearms — 6Â 218 from KZN and 4Â 226 from Eastern Cape — represents a major step in our efforts of creating a safer and secure society,” he said.
He also said the ministry held a firm view that responsible gun ownership did not cause crime.
More than 3Â 046 firearms and 41Â 597 rounds of ammunition have been handed to the police so far under a firearms amnesty in place from January 11 to April 11.
Touching on the subject of police reservists, Mthethwa said there would be no automatic integration of them into the force.
“There will be no unconditional employment into the force, reservists or not.
“The doors are open for anyone to leave the force if one thinks he or she can short-circuit requirements of being a police [official],” said Mthethwa.
He said applicants would be assessed individually, and not as a collective, and said the idea was to ensure the quality and not quantity of police.
He dismissed allegations that national police day was a waste of resources, saying police operated under distressing and challenging conditions and their spirits needed to be uplifted.
“When we get an opportunity to uplift and show appreciation to these members, we will do so without anyone’s sanction. We dismiss assertions that we have breached our constitutional duties by hosting the event.”
Mthethwa said contingency plans were always made when police were off duty. — Sapa