This follows the recent acquittal of four South African Police Service members, who were charged withThe Institute for Security Studies says Ntumba’s death forms part of a history of indiscriminate, reckless, and excessive use of rubber bullets by the SAPS.Andries Tatane and Mthokozisi Ntumba were some of those who were not so luckyAccording to David Bruce, an independent researcher and consultant with the Institute for Security Studies, Ntumba’s case amplifies SAPS impunity.
“A critical issue is that rubber bullets are potentially lethal. They are more likely to kill a person if they are fired at short range and targetted at the head or upper body. Some police members seem to think that they are fairly harmless for instance during the recent trial, there are some police who said that rubber bullets can’t kill. These police officers are obviously poorly informed.”
In the video below, the last moments of Mthokozisi Ntumba are detailed in the South Gauteng High Court:Investigations around the use of rubber bullets are difficult to solve because they can’t be linked to the exact firearm. A spokesperson for the Independent Police Investigative Directorate, Lizzy Suping, says for the previous financial year, 830 cases involving the discharge of an official firearm were registered.“27 cases completed and decision-ready.
Bruce says despite the recommendations of the 2016 report by a panel of experts, which was commissioned following the 2012 Marikana shootings – SAPS still does not adequately control the use of rubber bullets or enforce proper accountability for their use. “The minister finally released the report last year, a few weeks after Ntokozizi Ntumba was killed by the police. Unfortunately, we haven’t seen any sign as yet that there has been proper engagement by the police, of the panel report. One key point here is that the report recommended that there should be clear regulations regarding the use of rubber bullets, and no such regulations have been introduced.
That police mahn is doing his job Pov : bheki cele behavior when truth come out
So SAPS members should stand still with their hands in their pockets just looking as they are not allowed to act at all against any criminal even if their lifes are at danger!!!! Noooo thats not right, theyve joined SAPS to ensure order and protect us against criminals!!!
I fail to understand this thing of Mthokozisi Ntumba that 4 SAPS kill him who was holding the gun 🙄 all 4 I don't think to hold that gun with 8 hands can work they will shoot aside they can't stand straight they will make a curve,c'um with another solution
Furthermore, the government should hire more police officers, we witnessed during the unrest last year in Gauteng and KZN that our officers were out numbered and couldn't do much to prevent looting and loss of lives.
Can our SAPS be provided with proper public order police training and equipments, cause the use of rubber bullets is really outdated, honestly. If it means purchasing effective equipments from USA, then so be it.
It's high time, at times this people enjoy killing poor people