SAPS handling of student protestors referred to Police Ombudsman
22 October 2015
The Western Cape Government has referred the SAPS treatment of student protestors outside Parliament yesterday to the Provincial Police Ombudsman for investigation.
Furthermore, I have requested the Department of Community Safety Watching Brief unit to monitor the court cases following the students arrested yesterday at Parliament, as well as those arrested at the Universities of Cape Town and Stellenbosch earlier this week. Oversight needs to ensure that due process was followed in all cases.
While I support the SAPS in maintaining the rule of law, upholding court orders and safeguarding our communities – protestors and non-protestors – we need to do everything we can to prevent the day that escalation in violence can cause serious injury or even result in death.
The images from both outside Parliament and on campuses yesterday would have one believe that the SAPS is only responding with force without any prior mediation or communication with disgruntled protestors.
When protests are met with seemingly excessive force, especially against unarmed students trying to ensure a better future for themselves through education, we must act to ensure that proper, responsible policing procedure is being followed.
I have today requested the Ombudsman to investigate if there are any policing inefficiencies within the South African Police Service in dealing with recent unrest and protests.
I have also tasked the Ombudsman with investigating the standard operating procedures governing how the public order policing units in the province react to situations as unnecessary force or excessive retaliation by the SAPS can also lead to a very serious breakdown in relations between the police and a community.
I urge any student or community member who feels that there are inefficiencies in the policing service provided during protests, or that a breakdown in the relations between the police and themselves have occurred, to contact the Western Cape Police Ombudsman for his consideration and possible investigation at 021 483 0669 or by email,ombudsman@westerncape.
I recommend any person who feels that the police have abused their position and have acted improperly or illegally to contact the Western Cape Office of the Independent Police Investigative Directorate (IPID) for their investigation at 021 941 4800 or email, Complaints.WesternCape@
As is the case with any public unrest or protest, the relevant authority – be it a state department, authority, management or board - needs to responsibly de-escalate tensions and address the concerns. This is necessary to prevent the necessity of a SAPS intervention.
Just as anyone in the country has to abide by the law, the SAPS cannot be a law unto themselves. Effective oversight over policing services during unrest and protest could uncover inefficiencies that need to be addressed to ensure the safety of everyone.
Statement issued by Dan Plato, Western Cape Minister of Community Safety, 22 October 2015
