Nombuso Asanda Dlamini

Police Minister Bheki Cele condemned Economic Freedom Fighters leader, Julius Malema saying his comments are reckless, irresponsible and dangerous.

“You are not going to threaten the police and think the police are going to fold their arms and stand back. The job of the police is inscribed in the Constitution, Section 205 sub-three that is to protect, prevent, investigate and uphold the law,” Cele said.

On Sunday, Malema made statements against the police. This happened after there was a clash between the police and EFF members who were protesting in Brackenfell High School, Cape Town, on Friday and in Senekal, Free State. Malema claimed that the police abused the EFF members who were protesting against racism.

“If the South African police want a fight, they must declare it. We will treat them the same way we treated them in the 80s. We will not only fight them in the picket lines, we will go to their houses with their own families. We are not scared of Police,” Malema said.

The EFF leader was speaking to his supporters in Mokohore Municipality, Free State when he made these comments.

Cele stated that police are there to uphold and enforce the law, so no one has the right to threaten them when they uphold their work. He also pleaded with the SAPS to protect themselves.

“I do not think Malema understands the magnitude of his threats, although I was not part of the police who clashed with EFF members but I know that they were only doing their job so for the EFF leader to put their lives at such risk is really uncalled for,”  Said Sizwe Shange a member of the SAPS.

Sizwe Ngcobo chair- person of the EFF in ward 16, Pietermaritzburg seems to be in support of Malema’s remarks. “The police massacred people in Marikana and nothing was done about it now they are harassing us and when the CIC speaks up he gets attacked. I say an eye for an eye, if they want war, we give them war.”

According to law expert, Amanda Mchunu, threatening someone else with physical harm is a criminal threat and can result in fines, prison or jail or probation.

Picture: thesouthafrican.com