The Public Protector, Adv. Thuli Madonsela, confirmed in a letter AfriForum that she is considering investigating the Minister of Police, Nathi Mthethwa, for possible abuse of power and coercion.
The letter was sent in reply to a complaint lodged by AfriForum against minister Mthethwa in January regarding his handling of the march protesting against farm murders organised by AfriForum, which took place on 1 December 2012.
The Minister declared the march illegal, even though all the statutory obligations had been met. The organisation obtained an urgent declaratory court order from the North Gauteng High Court that the march may proceed.
"The Minister paid no attention to the court order and continued to handle the march as illegal," said Ernst Roets, Deputy CEO of AfriForum. "No police officers were dispatched to the Pretoria CBD to ensure the safety of the protesters. The officers who were present were there co-incidentally and had no knowledge of the march."
Representatives for the Minister tried in various ways to prevent the march from taking place. In one instance a representative, who refused to state his position or give his contact details, called Roets in and told him that AfriForum should not expect to meet with the National Commissioner regarding farm murders if the organisation does not abandon its plans to protest against farm murders.
"The Spokesperson for the Minister, Zweli Mnisi, made it very clear during telephonic conversations that we should not expect a meeting with the Minister as long as we were planning to focus attention on this matter by means of public protest action.
This is a case of blatant political coercion by officials who are serving their own political ideology at the cost of the general public," Roets said.
"The date was selected because the Potgieter family was murdered on 1 December 2010 on their farm near Lindley. Various victims of farm murders and families of murdered farmers took part in the march.
The Minister did not create a good impression with the victims," Roets said.
AfriForum conveyed its thanks to those who did take part in the march and assured them that the Minister's handling of the march as illegal did not mean that it was, as the court had already declared that it may proceed.
Public Protector considering investigating Nathi Mthethwa
The Public Protector, Adv. Thuli Madonsela, confirmed in a letter AfriForum that she is considering investigating the Minister of Police, Nathi Mthethwa, for possible abuse of power and coercion.
The letter was sent in reply to a complaint lodged by AfriForum against minister Mthethwa in January regarding his handling of the march protesting against farm murders organised by AfriForum, which took place on 1 December 2012.
The Minister declared the march illegal, even though all the statutory obligations had been met. The organisation obtained an urgent declaratory court order from the North Gauteng High Court that the march may proceed.
"The Minister paid no attention to the court order and continued to handle the march as illegal," said Ernst Roets, Deputy CEO of AfriForum. "No police officers were dispatched to the Pretoria CBD to ensure the safety of the protesters. The officers who were present were there co-incidentally and had no knowledge of the march."
Representatives for the Minister tried in various ways to prevent the march from taking place. In one instance a representative, who refused to state his position or give his contact details, called Roets in and told him that AfriForum should not expect to meet with the National Commissioner regarding farm murders if the organisation does not abandon its plans to protest against farm murders.
"The Spokesperson for the Minister, Zweli Mnisi, made it very clear during telephonic conversations that we should not expect a meeting with the Minister as long as we were planning to focus attention on this matter by means of public protest action.
This is a case of blatant political coercion by officials who are serving their own political ideology at the cost of the general public," Roets said.
"The date was selected because the Potgieter family was murdered on 1 December 2010 on their farm near Lindley. Various victims of farm murders and families of murdered farmers took part in the march.
The Minister did not create a good impression with the victims," Roets said.
AfriForum conveyed its thanks to those who did take part in the march and assured them that the Minister's handling of the march as illegal did not mean that it was, as the court had already declared that it may proceed.
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