South African unions call for police killings to be treated as treason
Police unions in the Republic of South Africa have called for the killings of law enforcement officers to be treated as treason and a crime against the state. The statements were made in Cape Town during a memorial service for police Captain Zamani Mzaiya, who was killed last week in a shootout in the city of Knysna.
As TimesLIVE reports, members of the South African Police Service and union representatives attended the ceremony at Customs House. The slain officer's wife and his five children were among those present. Colleagues described Mzaiya as a dedicated police officer and leader who set an example for others.
Officer's death in Knysna
Mzaiya was part of a group of police officers sent to Knysna after a series of fatal shootings in the area. Three men were killed in the violence, including city council member and former Knysna mayor Aubrey Tsengwa. The following day, Mandla Matiwane and Mandla Tyololo were shot dead.
The captain was killed during a shootout between police and a suspect. According to the outlet, the suspect was also killed.
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Call for legislative changes
Mark Meiring, chair of the Western Region of the South African Police Union, said the country is losing people entrusted with protecting citizens. In his words, killings of police officers can weaken communities' hope in the police.
Archie Mokgotu, deputy chair of the Police and Prisons Civil Rights Union (Popcru) in the Western Cape province, said an attack on a police officer should be regarded as an attack on the state and South Africa's constitutional order. He called for a parliamentary discussion on legislative changes that would make it possible to classify the murder of a police officer as treason.
The Popcru union condemned the killing of Captain Mzaiya "in the strongest possible terms".
