Police Portfolio Committee Chair Van Wyk reflects on police v. protesters

On Tuesday, before turning the Portfolio Committee on Police's attention to considering the controversial Private Security Industry Regulation Amendment (PSIRA) bill, Chairperson Annelize Van Wyk began the meeting on a sombre note by making mention of the fact that this year has not started off well for SAPS, with regards to the death of number of protesters.

In Mothotlong, near Brits in the North West Province, four people were killed by police when frustrated residents took to the streets to protest against their community being deprived of water for almost a week.

“People have a right to protest. We expect the police to police those protests in the context of the law,” said Van Wyk “we also need to remind community members that their right to protest comes with responsibility, a responsibility to not threaten the lives of others or destroy public property”.

She went on to say that she will check the Committee's program in order to find a suitable time to invite the relevant representatives from SAPS to address MPs “without fear or favour” about the way police approach protest action “not to excuse what has happened, but to understand,” said Wyk.

“Is it due to the number of officers policing the protests”, the age and possibly relative inexperience of the officers involved, or maybe even “the type of equipment they are using?” asked Van Wyk.

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