The Deputy Minister of Home Affairs Obedingwa Mguni has called on people to report any police officers who throw spikes at motorists and if they have evidence the officers will be fired.
“We are in a world where people can capture a lot of incidences through the gadgets they are carrying,” Mguni told the Senate in response to a question from Senator Lillian Timveos.
“We have already dismissed a lot of police officers through the help of the public when they record indecent acts which are not professional.
“If the police officer threw a spike onto a moving vehicle, that is not correct.
“If we can get such evidence, we will discipline the police officer because the spike must be laid down.
“It is used to control traffic, for motorists to stop and obey the instructions.”
Q & A:
HON. SEN. TIMVEOS: My question is directed to the Minister of Home Affairs. Do you have a policy that allows our police to stop commuter omnibuses and small vehicles using spikes? Is it lawful in this country?
THE DEPUTY MINISTER OF HOME AFFAIRS (HON. MGUNI): A boom gate, a spike, a drum and a mobile plastic wall which is usually yellow are all called security barriers. They are used to stop or control traffic – [HON. SENATORS: Hear, hear.]- The bone of contention is how they are put on the road. Spikes should be laid on the road so that an offender or any motorist stops and obey what the police want.
However, I have physically gone to where the police have been carrying the spikes. I have seen some taxi drivers driving over the spike which is laid and he will be carrying passengers. He may run for a distance with punctured wheels whilst the passengers are in there. You will see how those passengers are traumatised. I think that we need to educate the nation that they should not always try to break the law. When the police stops you, stop and comply. That will make no conflict between the police and the society. I thank you.
HON. SEN. TIMVEOS: A few days ago, I actually saw a police throwing a spike whilst the commuter omnibus was moving. The omnibus swerved and almost killed people. Is that how it is mearnt to be?
HON. MGUNI: We are in a world where people can capture a lot of incidences through the gadgets they are carrying. We have already dismissed a lot of police officers through the help of the public when they record indecent acts which are not professional.
If the police officer threw a spike onto a moving vehicle, that is not correct. If we can get such evidence, we will discipline the police officer because the spike must be laid down. It is used to control traffic, for motorists to stop and obey the instructions.
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