Help stop cop killings, urges Zuma

President Jacob Zuma has called on the public to help in the fight against police killings, saying it requires a united action by both government and society.

"The rate at which police are being attacked and killed calls for united action by both government and society at large," said President Zuma on Tuesday.

Updating the nation on progress made since the State of the Nation Address (SONA) in February, President Zuma said 55 police officers have been killed since January this year.

He has requested the Police Minister Nkosinathi Nhleko to re-examine the police safety strategy to enable the police to respond effectively when attacked.

The South African Police Service (SAPS) is responding effectively to shopping mall robberies.

"The various units of the SAPS, including crime intelligence, the tactical response team, visible policing, the Hawks, together with Business Against Crime, cellular phone shops, the South African Banking Risk Information Centre and private security companies have been successful in dealing with this problem," he said.

Police have found that the majority of the shopping malls were being targeted primarily to rob cellphone shops. These and other electronic equipment that were stolen were taken out of the country. Several suspects, including so-called kingpins, have been arrested.

The President noted that an attack on police officers is an attack on both the authority of the state and on the nation.

"I appeal to the people of South Africa to play an active role to curb attacks by identifying those who kill police officers as they live within our communities. The people should also continue to provide information to the police about all who are involved in criminal activities, so that we can build safer communities, together," explained President Zuma.

On 6 September, government will hold the annual service at the Union Buildings to commemorate all fallen police officers.
Marikana report

Meanwhile, the implementation of the report on the tragic incidents that took place in Marikana, in the North West leading to the killing of more than 44 people is receiving attention as a top priority, said the President.

In August 2012, the President appointed a Commission of Inquiry to investigate matters of public, national and international concern arising out of the tragic incidents at the Lonmin Mine in Marikana, between 11 and 16 August 2012.

The commission was tasked with enquiring into and making findings and recommendations concerning the conduct of Lonmin Plc, the SAPS, the Association of Mineworkers and Construction Union (AMCU), the National Union of Mineworkers (NUM), the Department of Mineral Resources (DMR) and other government departments, as well as individuals and groupings.

The commission’s report recommended, among other things, that there be an enquiry into National Police Commissioner General Riah Phiyega’s fitness to hold office.

"The response of the National Police Commissioner to the recommendations of the Commission about her fitness to hold office is receiving attention," said the President.

President Zuma is also in discussion with the ministers whose portfolios are affected by the Marikana report such as Police, Labour, Mineral Resources as well as Justice and Correctional Services.

"We will provide feedback in due course to the nation on progress being made in the implementation of the recommendations. All interventions are aimed at ensuring that such an incident never occurs again in our country."

Attacks on foreign nationals

Regarding the attacks on foreign nationals in April, the President said that the Inter-Ministerial Committee on Migration remains seized with the matter of ensuring that everything possible is done to prevent a recurrence of the attacks.

Measures being undertaken include legislative and regulatory reform, improved policing through Operation Fiela and the promotion of peaceful co-existence and togetherness between citizens and nationals of other countries.

"The IMC on Migration will meet with organisations representing foreign and African nationals soon, to take forward the discussions I had with them in April," said the President.