Newly appointed acting Police Minister Firoz Cachalia said law enforcement officers cannot fight crime with unbridled violence.
He was responding to questions over whether he supports police implementing a “shoot to kill” policy.
On Friday, Cachalia was sworn in as a minister at the Union Buildings in Pretoria.
In the last financial year, police in KwaZulu-Natal killed 187 people during the commission of their work – the most of any province.
Police Minister Firoz Cachalia
These tactics have divided opinion among the public and people in the law enforcement sector.
Cachalia said officers must protect themselves in the field when dealing with violent criminals; however, this must be done within the law.
“We are not a banana republic; we have a history in this country of the abuse of policing power, we all know about that.”
Cachalia mentioned the death of Andries Tatane and the Marikana Massacre.
“The message from the minister cannot be that what is required to fight crime is unbridled, unlawful violence.”
Cachalia said part of his mandate will be to ensure police are properly equipped to fight and investigate crime.
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