Cape Town – The increase in the number of cop killings stems from the public no longer respecting the authority of the police, Western Cape community safety MEC Dan Plato said on Saturday.
“This is a worry for me,” he told News24. “We need to analyse why this is happening, and why it is considered cool to target our men and women in blue.”
Plato expressed his dismay at the murder of a constable who was gunned down and robbed of his gun as he left a tavern in Mandalay on Friday night.
“When I contacted acting provincial police commissioner Major General Thembisile Patekile to extend my condolences, I urged him to leave no stone unturned in the search for those responsible for this brutal attack.
“This cannot be allowed to escalate into a trend. The respect for the police’s authority has to be restored.”
Police are currently searching for four suspects responsible for the off-duty policeman’s murder.
The constable was attacked as he left a tavern in Oswell Road at about 21:45, confirmed police spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Andre Traut.
The officer was stationed at Elands Bay police station, but had been in Nyanga for special duties.
Almost 60 officers have been killed this year alone.
Most of the police killings committed in the country this year took place in the Western Cape and Gauteng, Deputy Police Minister Maggie Sotyu said two months ago.
Source – News24
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