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The South African Federation of Trade Unions has noted comments by the new Police Minister, Fikile Mbalula, on the fight against crime.

SAFTU agrees that there should be zero tolerance towards crime, especially violent crime, but insists that police should act within the law and not become criminals themselves.

It was therefore highly disturbing that the Minister also issued a warning to violent protesters, telling them not to damage property during demonstrations because he didn’t want to see a repeat of the Marikana massacre. “We must educate our people because I don’t want another Marikana here where police opened fire and people died.”

It is highly insensitive to the memory of the victims of Marikana to imply that the murdered workers were in some responsible for the murderous actions of the police on that fateful day. The Farlam Commission confirmed that the protesters were brutally hunted down and assassinated by police officers, some of whom are now facing prosecution.

SAFTU insists that all South Africans have the right to protest peacefully in the street and that right must protected, no threatened by the SAPS.

Our affiliate SAPU has made its position clear on the need to fight crime properly and to put resources where they matter, on the ground and in communities.

We are also concerned that the Minister should belittle the role of the Human Rights Commission which all those concerned with effective policing must respect.

Issued by South African Federation of Trade Unions