Cape Town - The South African Communist Party (SACP) in the Western Cape has spoken out against cop killings, labelling it a “co-ordinated offensive onslaught”.
The SACP branch in the Brian Bunting district within the Cape Metro on Friday expressed its outrage at the recent spate of attacks on members of the South African Police Services (SAPS), saying enough was enough.
Western Cape SACP District Secretary Benson Ngqentsu, said: “We note with concern what seems to be a coordinated offensive onslaught against the police by heinous criminals.”
This came after the most recent shooting, that of Mitchells Plain Warrant Officer Herman Prins who was off duty at at a car wash on Thursday when he was approached by gunmen and shot and wounded in the face.
“Our communities must rise and defend our police against criminals,” Ngqentsu said.
He pointed out that the attack on Prins followed the murder of Warrant Officer Petrus Holz who was who was attacked and knifed to death by assailants while he was fixing his tyre on the N2 in the Western Cape in July.
Holz’s car had had hit debris which had been deliberately strewn on the road and he was murdered as he stopped to change a damaged tyre.
“This [incident] clearly demonstrates the offensive nature of these criminals in our society,” said Ngqentsu.
“Furthermore, the vulnerability of our police to heartless criminals poses a serious threat to the security our people.”
According to police statistics, 53 police officers have been killed since the start of the year.
He added: “We encourage the police never be intimidated, but fight ruthlessly against these criminals, and we urge our society to defend the police.”
Ngqentsu said the SACP believed that operations such as Operation Fiela, “based on its success”, should continue as these operations were doing much to uproot and get rid of lawless elements that if untended, would have a detrimental effect on the country’s peace and security.
ANA