Police Minister Bheki Cele has told police officers to fill the country’s prisons even though they are full of anyone who broke the law during the nationwide shutdown of the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF).
Cele assured South Africans that the anarchy, riots and violence that occurred during the July riots in 2021 will not occur during the EFF protests.
The minister spoke to South African Police Service (Saps) officers in Mayfair on Friday.
Watch the video of Cele calling for police officers to fill an overcrowded jail
Standby status
Cele was joined by Saps National Commissioner General Fannie Masemola and Gauteng Provincial Commissioner, Lieutenant General Elias Mawela, to conduct a tour of Gauteng operations ahead of the red beret protest.
The purpose of the visit is to assess and ensure that Gauteng officers are prepared to monitor the planned closure of the EFF which will take place on Monday, 20 March 2023.
Also read: WATCH: Ramaphosa warns EFF ‘anarchy and disorder will not be tolerated’
High alert
Cele told the police that he had to be careful.
“In July 2021, if you have flown, it will not happen again in your presence. When you are there, South Africans should be safe, property should be safe, everyone should be safe.
“Therefore, the provincial commissioner – I order that the force, the multi-disciplinary approach that I see here…
Watch the video Cele says the police will be vigilant
Prison contents
Cele also urged the officers to take preventive action.
“With the minimum force, try everything possible to avoid human harm anywhere on that day. But you have the right to fill the prison.
“Therefore, national and provincial commissioners, all the police must be alert and ensure that whoever is outside the law, you put him there. If there is no place, keep him there. If there is no place to sleep, he must sleep stand.
“But make sure that everyone who breaks the law, the law will be enforced and the law will not go back,” said Cele.
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