Hon Speaker, the mobilisation of the SA Police Service on conflict with the people of South Africa, such as the cruelty to Mido Macia, the Marikana mine massacre last year, the cold-blooded killing of Andries Tatane a year or so ago, and many other chilling events can be traced back to the ANC's 2009 election manifesto. While the document beats about the bush on some issues, one word describes how the ANC would intensify the fight against corruption and crime, and that word is "tougher". The ANC said it would be tougher on criminals and against crime syndicates.
The unfortunate word has its root in what the then newly appointed Minister of Safety and Security, Nathi Mthethwa, said in November 2008 when he addressed the Select Committee on Security. In his address, he said the police should fight fire with fire in dealing with gangs involved in cash- in-transit heists. The militarisation of the police ranks in the March 2010 policing policy document added insult to injury and saw the police having a field day.
These gunslingers are, however, not as adept as they should be when it comes to performing police work. The slovenly manner in which crime scenes, such as the one in Oscar Pistorius's case, are approached is a case in point. There are countless cases that have been thrown out of court owing to poor investigation, an indication of poor training on their part. The conduct of the police in a democratic South Africa should be, in the spirit of the Constitution, to prevent and not to cause; to combat and not to promote; and to investigate ... Thank you very much. [Time expired.]