police officers POPCRU

Over 20 police officers were killed between July and September 2022. Images: SAPS and Pixabay.

‘Neglected victims’: Police union saddened by murder of officers

POPCRU has accused SAPS of being reluctant to deal with the murder of police officers. The union says members have rights to live.

police officers POPCRU

Over 20 police officers were killed between July and September 2022. Images: SAPS and Pixabay.

The Police and Prisons Civil Rights Union (POPCRU) says the randomness and apparent targeting of police officers, whether on or off duty, has inevitably increased members’ feelings of insecurity. 

The sentiment comes as Warrant Officer Roger Mavundla, his wife, and two children were shot dead in Port Edward, KwaZulu-Natal, and Captain Lusasa from the Muizenberg SAPS in the Western Cape was brutally stabbed to death in Khayelitsha, Cape Town. 

POPCRU SADDENED BY MURDER OF POLICE OFFICERS

According to the South African Police Service (SAPS) reports, there were 22 police officers killed between July and September 2022. 

POPCRU said with the continued killings beyond the stated period; they are concerned that these numbers will continue rising unabated if no action is taken.

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The union’s spokesperson Richard Mamabolo said it is clear that police officers are being singled out as targets for attacks for their firearms which are later utilised to perpetrate further criminal activities.

Mamabolo said many SAPS members are justifiably angered by this trend wherein their colleagues continue to be killed and are specific targets of attack. They consider themselves forgotten and neglected victims; the authorities, in particular, their organisation, do not care about their safety and security and fail to do anything concrete about the situation. In their view, the overall perception is that the SAPS appears reluctant to do anything.

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“There is an urgent need to examine the reasons why the attacks on and killing of police members have continued at such high levels and also to investigate what could be done to protect the members of the police service, not only in their work environment but also off-duty and in their homes, from attack and murder.

No longer can members accept injury or death as merely a consequence or an acceptable risk in the normal execution of their daily work, and no longer can we stand by and listen to long speeches during funerals and commemorations without any action being taken. Police officers, too, have rights to live.” 

Richard Mamabolo

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CALL FOR SAFETY OF SAPS MEMBERS TO BE PRIORITISED

Furthermore, Mamabolo said men and women in blue are tasked daily to ensure all citizens are safe in their homes, workplaces, places of worship, and entertainment. In turn, they and their immediate families are also well looked after. 

“There is an urgent need to review and increase service allowances for SAPS Act members and an introduction of the danger allowance for the Public Service Act employees and SAPS Act members. We call for the killing of police officers to be considered treasonous as it directly undermines the state’s authority,” Mamabolo said. 

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