THIS was the strong message from uThungulu District Chairperson of the Community Policing Forum (CPF), Mthunzi Mathenjwa. Speaking to the Zululand Observer, Mathenjwa said the continued killings of police officers in uThungulu – and in the country as a whole – were extremely disturbing.
‘We cannot allow criminals to dictate terms to our citizens and our law enforcement agencies.
‘They must know and abide by the rules and laws of this country. These police killings we see every day undermines even the Constitution in which we pride ourselves.
‘The impact these killings have in the community is huge.
‘This month alone we have lost Warrant Officer Niren Foxy Ramsaroop who was gunned down in cold blood by a man desperate to escape the clutches of the law, a criminal who holds no regard for law and order.
‘As if that wasn’t enough another Warrant Officer, Jeriko Mdletshe, was shot and killed outside Gingindlovu while his partner Constable Ndwandwe was shot five times during a gunfight with criminals. ‘We also have a case where W/O Vusumuzi Mngomezulu was shot in the head while responding to a robbery in Nseleni.
‘All these incidents point to one direction, criminals have declared war on the state.
‘Police are the defenders of the community, but if criminals kill them in this fashion, who will defend the community?,’ he asked.
While advocating strong action, Mathenjwa did caution police to ensure necessary restraint.
‘Our men and women in blue must not act in a manner that will be in conflict with the law.’
He appealed to the community to assist the police in their fight against crime, rather than being spectators.
‘As the CPF we will hold crime awareness campaigns and work with all police stations in the district.’
