Deputy Speaker, I see that neither the Minister of Police nor his Deputy is here. This is just as well because yesterday I began receiving shocking reports of what can only be viewed as extreme partisan behaviour on the part of our SA Police Service, SAPS, members when they, without any paperwork of any kind, smashed the gate and kicked their way into the ANC-led Mogalakwena municipality in Limpopo and hauled everyone out - about 30 councillors against whom the municipal manager had allegedly laid corruption charges.
They then threw the officials and the rest of the councillors into the back of their SAPS vans. One disabled person fell to the ground and he was picked up and bodily thrown in. After some hours - all witnessed by the DA NCOP member, Beyer Smith - they were released.
The SAPS used that time to go into the municipal building and take out two bakkie-loads full of documents which they then delivered to the ANC Headquarters.
AN HON MEMBER: How do you know?
How do we know? Well, they confiscated all phones from those filming the action, except, of course, the DA MPs, but we do know absolutely because the DA councillor followed them to the ANC offices.
Now, we had a near miss when the Speaker summoned the riot squad to Parliament. However, this behaviour leaves South Africa just one short step from being declared a police state.
Please explain to this House what right they had to invade the political space especially as the matter of removing councillors was still before the courts and on appeal; what right they had to disarm the bodyguards of the mayor and the municipal manager; how soon the Minister intends suspending the entire unit; and whether our SAPS now serve at the will of political factions within the ANC?
This morning they were still occupying the building. Is this an SAPS coup d'tat?
