The City of Cape Town’s law enforcement officers are a “group of criminals” who must “be imprisoned” along with their leaders for illegally carrying firearms, said Bheki Cele, a police minister.
That’s is what Cele said Wednesday afternoon as he participated in the second day of the debate over Pres. Cyril Ramaphosa’s State of the Nation Address.
According to Cele, one of the issues he discussed with Winde was the debate that provinces should have control over the police.
“But let me tell you, there is a Constitution. For now, policing is a national competence. ”
Cele said the meeting with Winde also came after a police officer was shot “in January by a so-called law enforcement officer” (in Cape Town).
“When we went to look at it, the City of Cape Town’s structures (for law enforcement officials), which they boast about, were outside the legislative framework.
“We are currently working with them and say there is something like the law in this country. If you are going to create people carrying firearms, we (the police) must have a surveillance role over them.
“Since January 16, I have been asking for the competency certificates of these people, but I have not received anything yet. They carry firearms without certificates.
“It’s just a group of criminals who are irresponsible. These are the people who actually belong in prison with their leaders. They need to know there are laws they have to respect. ”
