IPID must investigate SAPS brutality
Jane Sithole, MPL
Spokesperson on Community Safety & Liaison:
A day just before Premier David Mabuza boldly told
the people of Mpumalanga in his State of the province address (SOPA) that the
problem of water supply was solved in Bushbuckridge, a young boy was shot dead
in Casteel village while protesting for water.
15-year old Lucas Lebyane was shot on Thursday
allegedly by the police when protesters from Casteel village, blockaded the R40
with rocks and burning tyres demanding that the Bushbuckridge local
municipality provide them with water. Another boy from the same village was
shot in the leg, but was not hospitalised.
On the contrary, on Friday Premier David Mabuza
stood boldly before the people of Mpumalanga and confidently told them that the
problem of water supply in Bushbuckridge has been solved and villages have
access to clean drinking water.
The shooting and killing of Lebyane on Thursday, is
in direct contradiction on what Mabuza was saying in his SOPA on Friday. This
once again demonstrated the extent of ANC government’s disconnection with the
real state of the province.
According to the Mpumalanga police, a case of
murder was opened at the Acornhoek police station and the Independent Police
Investigative Directorate (IPID) is investigating the matter. The DA welcomes
IPID’s involvement in the investigation.
The DA will also request an urgent intervention
from the Provincial Police Commissioner, General Mark Dumisa Magadlela to stop
SAPS from using live ammunition to disperse peaceful protesters.
In Nasaret, Middelburg, on Thursday, it was
reported that the SAPS used rubber bullets and teargas to disperse peaceful
protesters who wanted the Steve Tshwete local municipality to intervene in the
taxi unrest currently taking place in Nazaret, Rockdale, Eastdene and
Hlalamnandi.
The DA does not understand the reason why SAPS
started shooting at peaceful protesters. The community was protesting
peacefully, but it got ugly when the police started firing rubber bullets and
tear gas at them.
We are
becoming increasingly concerned with SAPS brutality and the alleged use of live
ammunition to quell service delivery protests. Police are mandated to protect
the people of Mpumalanga not to carry out a reign of fear.
