Fikile Mbalula

PRETORIA, SOUTH AFRICA – APRIL 24: Police Minister Fikile Mbalula addresses the media regarding the suspended Hawks boss Berning Ntlemeza’s defiance on April 24, 2017 in Pretoria, South Africa. Mbalula ordered Ntlemeza to return the state vehicle he unlawfully took possession of or face charges. (Photo by Gallo Images / Beeld / Deaan Vivier)

‘You can’t be a policeman and have a big tummy’ Mbalula

Stomach in, chest out 2.0?

Fikile Mbalula

PRETORIA, SOUTH AFRICA – APRIL 24: Police Minister Fikile Mbalula addresses the media regarding the suspended Hawks boss Berning Ntlemeza’s defiance on April 24, 2017 in Pretoria, South Africa. Mbalula ordered Ntlemeza to return the state vehicle he unlawfully took possession of or face charges. (Photo by Gallo Images / Beeld / Deaan Vivier)

Fikile “razzmatazz” Mbalula, former Minister of Sport and now Minister of Police, huge personality and always dives straight into work. While former HAWKS head Berning Ntlemeza has been raging war against the new minister, Mbalula has today released his plans for getting the SAPS into tip-top shape.

After being in office for 25 days, Mbalula issued a series of strong warnings for criminals and “bad” cops alike. Taking a page or two out of Bheki Cele’s book he emphasised that officers of the law should be able to go all out to defend themselves and the innocent.

“Police must be ruthless against those who are armed… But what I am saying is if they are shooting at you‚ you shoot back‚ …Shoot to kill‚”

The minister also said that it is “unacceptable” for SAPS members to be overweight on the job.

“You can’t be a policeman and have a big tummy”

Mbalula also acknowledged perceptions that some parts of SAPS were militarised, saying that Public Order Policing (POP) and Tactical Response units would receive the necessary training in order to address those perceptions.

“The TRT will be used to deal with dangerous criminals. We will meet them head on in terms of our specialised units.  Criminals can run‚ but we will find them‚ They must not mix with ordinary members of the community.”

The minister described his plans as a “war on crime” and also discussed an anti-gang strategy among an improvement to other departments of the police force.

Mbalula is also making news after News24 decided to publish a set of court papers that allege a murdered businessman paid the new Minister of Police R1m.  The payment was allegedly made when Mbalula was still Minister of Sport. Soon after the payment, the minister travelled to Las Vegas to watch the Mayweather vs Pacquiao boxing match, his attendance caused controversy at the time.

Will Razzmatazz get our crime rates down and criminals quaking in their boots? We will have to wait and see…