President Jacob Zuma today, 3 August 2015, visited the family of Mr Simon Mabatamela in Kathlehong, the member of the Johannesburg Metro Police Department who was brutally killed in the line of duty at a shopping complex in Johannesburg during an armed robbery.
Members of the Buthelezi and Shabalala families, who also lost their kith and kin who were members of the South African Police Service, joined the Mabatamela family, united in grief.
President Zuma conveyed his words of comfort and condolence to all three families and committed government to taking drastic action to arrest and bring to justice the perpetrators of the murderous acts. The President said the whole nation was united with the families in their grief and had appealed to members of the public to come forward with information that would lead to their arrests.
He reiterated his call for members of the Police to defend themselves against criminals when they are attacked but emphasised that they must do it within what the law allows.
President Zuma also voiced his concern at the number of guns - legal and illegal - in society, and expressed in particular, concern about guns in the hands of the criminals. He said government must together with society determine how to effectively rid society of guns and whether the Police were sufficiently trained to protect society and protect the State from this onslaught by criminals.
"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 Police to protect us. 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," said President Zuma.
He added: "I have personally conveyed our heartfelt condolences to the three families we visited today. 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. We once again appeal to members of the public to help us bring these criminals to justice as soon as possible."
Enquiries:
Bongani Majola
Cell: 082 339 1993
E-mail: bonganim@presidency.gov.za
