MINISTER OF POLICE MUST STEP IN AT ONCE

Many South African Police Service members demonstrated outside court today in support of four officers making a bail application on a charge of murder for allegedly shooting and killing a suspect in Krugersdorp.

Police unions Popcru and Sapu mobilized their members to be at court in their numbers to show that they stand by the accused.

This shows clearly that the Police service is cut right in the middle on this matter: the unions on one side and management on the other side. This is a very dangerous division. We cannot have such a situation.

The safety of citizens is at stake. Crime which is already so high, will explode as a result of this division.

COPE is certainly very concerned about this development. We therefore call upon the Minister of Police to intervene immediately, before it is too late.

Issued by COPE Spokesperson Dennis Bloem, 10 November 2015