THERE are two ways to halt an advancing mob intent on mischief. The first is the use of live ammunition and the second to use teargas, neither of which were used to quell the looting mobs in our recent unrest.
Because of the political fallout for our president and the ANC after the Marakana massacre, our police were never going to use the first option, but the question that screams for an answer is why was teargas not used to protect the looted properties?
It is inconceivable that the “Man in the hat” and his police hierarchy are unaware of the efficacy of teargas. The most reasonable answer among a number is that, because of the looting of the SAPS coffers, there is no money remaining to purchase canisters and the masks the police would need. After all, they ran out of rubber bullets which are of limited use anyway!
Having been teargassed, there is no possibility that any looter would be capable of walking off with deep freezes and our beautiful Watercrest Mall could have been saved, had it had been flooded with teargas. No one can loot if they cannot see or breathe, so why was this option not used?
C B Rogers
Waterfall
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