MOKOPANE – According to a press release by AfriForum the SAPS’s invasion of the Mogalakwena Municiplaity in Mokopane yesterday can possibly be declared as an act of terrorism according to legislation.
This statement made by AfriForum follows after police officers violently invaded the municipality without a legal warrant.
The police, who allegedly acted under the demand of Genl Mphalatji, assaulted and arrested municipal managers and ward councillors and ordered everyone to evacuate the premises. The police apparently also ordered that nine proportional councillors be elected immediately.
“Athough the reason for the invasion is still unclear, AfriForum suspects political foul play,” said Ian Cameron, head of community safety for AfriForum.
“Due to Genl Mphalatji’s actions the SAPS could be held accountable for a possible act of terrorism. Police cannot invade and occupy a municipality as they see fit or without legal documentation. Actions like these makes the country unstable and permitting such actions can even lean towards high treason,” Cameron added.
Act 33 of 2004 clearly stipulates the following:
“PROTECTION OF CONSTITUTIONAL DEMOCRACY AGAINST TERRORIST AND RELATED ACTIVITIES ACT”
Any act committed which-
Is designed or calculated to cause serious interference with or serious disruption of an essential service, facility or system, or the delivery of any such service, facility or system, whether public or private…
…is intended, or by its nature and context, can reasonably be regarded as being intended, in whole or in part, directly or indirectly, to-
Unduly compel, intimidate, force, coerce, induce or cause a person, a government, the general public or a segment of the public to do or to abstain or refrain from doing any act…
According to Cameron this event once again proves that national police commissioner Genl Riah Phiyega is not in control of police in this country.
