ACTIVISTS and Citizens Forum (ACF) has called on Police Minister Senzo Mchunu to equip police with the necessary equipment to fight against criminal gangs.
The forum said the equipment would assist police to match the well-resourced criminal syndicates.
“We applaud the police for the no-nonsense stance and action they are taking against these brazen bloodthirsty monsters. Activists and Citizens Forum fully supports the police with their latest approach, returning fire with fire. This is long overdue.
“A strong message must be sent to all those monsters who are still planning to harm or kill innocent people. Lawlessness will not be allowed in this country. Anyone who thinks that they will turn this country into a banana republic will face the full might of the law,” the Forum’s spokesperson Dennis Bloem said.
Bloem said their statement was informed by the latest statistics which showed that murder, hijacking, rape, gender-based violence and femicide, cash-in-transit heist, extortion, dealing in drugs, and construction Mafia have increased.
“Crime in the country is out of control. it looks as if we are living in a war zone. Criminals don’t have respect for human life anymore. They behave as if human rights belong to them alone. The rule of law doesn’t exist in their book.
“The police men and women are also not being spared by these monsters. Police are forever in the firing line. Police are killed as if they are the enemy.”
Gauteng’s police commissioner Tommy Mthombeni sent a strong message to criminals that whoever was planning to carry out crime in the province would feel the wrath of the police.
“They have to take note, whoever is planning to carry out a crime within this province, they will feel the heat. As we know, some of them are daring. So, we are up for them, and we will meet them on the streets,” Mthombeni said.
His comments comes after police shot and killed six cash-in-transit robbers in the Germiston CBD over the weekend.
SAPS had swiftly responded to a report of a cash-in-transit heist in action. Upon arrival, a shoot-out ensued between the suspects and the police.
The commissioner said the suspects were travelling in a stolen vehicle before pouncing on the cash vehicle.
Investigations into the matter continue.
The Star