ON Saturday a policeman shot dead a pupil, Moloko Setjie, who was in school uniform.
His only sin was being a suspected criminal driving a suspicious vehicle.
Last year Sibusiso Molefe of Soweto and at least five other people suffered the same fate from the police.
We expect the Independent Complaints Directorate to investigate the conduct of the cops involved in the the death of Setjie.
Events here point to an unprovoked but fatal attack on the young man. It is another common thread in all the deaths above - a violent reaction by the police to a seemingly peaceful situation.
No doubt there are many cool-headed, vigilant and honest law enforcement officers out there. In our streets, though, the reputation of the men and women in blue is suspect, to say the least.
Ongoing unwarranted assaults on the public do not help their cause, much as other unsavoury claims against the police, such as taking bribes and protecting thugs. Hence the anger over Setjie.
Why, 25 people people died in police custody in 2009-10 and we are still waiting to hear if there will be consequences.
The police should not have to be suspects in any improper behaviour, especially the bloody type. These suspicions are a throwback to the days the country was a police state under apartheid warlords.
We said then that one suspect death was one too many. Nothing will change our response.
To Police Commissioner Bheki Cele and Minister Nathi Mthethwa the warning is clear: watch your lieutenants, lest we become a police state again.
It's signs of police state
ON Saturday a policeman shot dead a pupil, Moloko Setjie, who was in school uniform.
His only sin was being a suspected criminal driving a suspicious vehicle.
Last year Sibusiso Molefe of Soweto and at least five other people suffered the same fate from the police.
We expect the Independent Complaints Directorate to investigate the conduct of the cops involved in the the death of Setjie.
Events here point to an unprovoked but fatal attack on the young man. It is another common thread in all the deaths above - a violent reaction by the police to a seemingly peaceful situation.
No doubt there are many cool-headed, vigilant and honest law enforcement officers out there. In our streets, though, the reputation of the men and women in blue is suspect, to say the least.
Ongoing unwarranted assaults on the public do not help their cause, much as other unsavoury claims against the police, such as taking bribes and protecting thugs. Hence the anger over Setjie.
Why, 25 people people died in police custody in 2009-10 and we are still waiting to hear if there will be consequences.
The police should not have to be suspects in any improper behaviour, especially the bloody type. These suspicions are a throwback to the days the country was a police state under apartheid warlords.
We said then that one suspect death was one too many. Nothing will change our response.
To Police Commissioner Bheki Cele and Minister Nathi Mthethwa the warning is clear: watch your lieutenants, lest we become a police state again.
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