Joburg councillors condemn police killings

30 October 2015

 

City of Johannesburg councillors yesterday (Thursday October 29) came out in support of the families of police officers killed in the line of duty and to relatives of the two men who were brutally murdered at Rhodes Park, as well as of those who died in the Sandton bridge collapse a few weeks ago.

 

Before officially opening the City’s 60th monthly council meeting, Speaker Councillor Connie Bapela asked the legislature to observe a minute’s silence in honour of the deceased. Earlier, hundreds of placard-carrying councillors demonstrated outside the council chambers at Metro Centre in Braamfontein against police killings.

The demonstration was punctuated by singing, toyi-toying and chanting of slogans.

 

Some of the placards read: “We Remember our Heroes who Died Protecting our City”, “#Stop Killing Our Police”, “Police are our Fathers, Mothers, Uncles and Sons", "Police are Not the Enemy, Crime Is”, “Let’s Pray for Our Police" and "Let’s Unite with Police to Fight Crime.”

 

In her address to the council, Councillor Bapela described the Sandton bridge collapse as a “a sad and horrifying experience” and conveyed the council’s condolences to the families of the two people who died.

 

“I would also like to wish all those who sustained injuries a speedy recovery. We have recognised, too, with appreciation, that the Executive Mayor’s response to the scene of the accident was immediate. On behalf of the legislature, I must also commend the various units and departments for the sterling role they played and their swift response to the incident to ensure that those affected were taken care of. You have made us proud,” she said.

 

The Speaker said the brutal Rhodes Park attack had shocked many people.

 

“We condemn this barbaric act with the strongest of words. We welcome the urgency demonstrated by the Executive Mayor to deal with the matter by convening an urgent Mayoral Committee meeting following this incident.

 

“We are further encouraged by the setting up of a collaborative security plan to be immediately activated at Rhodes Park and applied at all the City’s recreational facilities," Councillor Bapela said.

She said police killings were like a sore wound that should not be allowed to fester.

 

“We should, all of us, be concerned about the apparent apathy about police killings.  The media, as all of us, have an enormous responsibility to raise awareness about the killing of police.

 

“The public needs to be educated about the complex environment of policing. The killing of police should be considered absolutely unacceptable and an affront to the people, the state and our democracy. We need, all of us as law abiding South Africans, to take charge and defend our police," she concluded.

 

MMC for Health and Social Development Councillor Nonceba Molwele commended church leaders for the role they played in bringing peace in troubled townships and comfort and solace to bereaved families.

 

She said the role of the church in mediating in conflicts and oppression of their fellow countrymen went back to the days of apartheid when church leaders such as Archbishop Desmond Tutu, the Rev Allan Boesak and Bishop Paul Verryn led from the front.