The Independent Complaints Directorate (ICD) has not released any new statistics/report since October 2009 when it tabled its Annual Report 2008/09 in parliament.
In that report, there is no reference to any “shoot to kill” policy because as far as the ICD is aware there have not been any changes to the legislation governing the use of deadly force by the police.
The figures circulating in the media were presented to a workshop by a well known researcher from the Centre for the Study of Violence and Reconciliation, Mr David Bruce, and these figures have been public knowledge since the release of the annual report last year.
A proper reading of the said report does not establish any link between the increase in deaths due to police action and the statements made by any politician.In fact, such a link is not supported by facts.The increase in deaths due police action is more attributable to the increase in violent crimes in the country.
An analysis of the ICD’s Annual Report 2008/09 will indicate that some of the shootings by police take place during confrontations with heavily armed suspects who will not hesitate to shoot at the police. Such shootings are in fact justified in law.
The ICD takes its mandate to investigate police criminality seriously and has had numerous successes in ensuring that those who do not belong in the police service are sentenced to prison terms.The next release of the Annual Report 2009/10 is set for September 2010.
For enquiries contact:
Mr Moses Dlamini
Cell: 082 809 1927
Issued by: Independent Complaints Directorate
25 March 2010
Source: Independent Complaints Directorate (http://www.icd.gov.za/)
