JOANNESBURG – President Jacob Zuma visited the family of slain Johannesburg Metro Police Department (JMPD) officer, Simon Mabatamela in Kathlehong. Simon was killed in the line of duty during an armed robbery in Rosettenville on Monday, August 3.
Members of the Buthelezi and Shabalala families, who also recently lost loved ones, joined the Mabatamela family.
President Zuma conveyed his words of comfort and condolence to all three families, “I have personally conveyed our heartfelt condolences to the three families we visited.
“I wish to thank the Mabatamela family for allowing the Buthelezi and Shabalala families to join us in this fashion, it is highly unprecedented during a mourning period and that’s because it’s also highly unprecedented to lose so many members of our police service in a short space of time”.
Zuma indicated that the government was committed to arresting and bringing the perpetrators to justice.
“We once again appeal to members of the public to help us bring these criminals to justice as soon as possible,” Zuma said.
The President also made a call for members of the police to defend themselves against criminals when they are attacked but emphasised that they must do it within the legal limit.
“It saddens us that members of the Police die in the hands of criminals in this fashion, particularly as our police come under heavy criticism every time they defend themselves against danger. It’s probably time for us to discuss as a nation, how we want the police to protect us,” he said.
President Zuma also voiced his concern at the number of both legal and illegal guns in society and expressed concern that guns are in the hands of the criminals.
He said government, together with society, must determine how to effectively rid society of guns and assess whether the police are sufficiently trained to protect society and the state from criminal onslaughts.
“Any attack on the police is an attack on the state and our nation. It is unacceptable and we must work together to stop it.”
