POLICE Minister Bheki Cele says police officers "must never think of human rights when dealing with criminals".
Cele said the moment criminals take up arms and take to the streets to attack residents, they have already undermined the human rights of others and should be dealt with accordingly.
He said this when he addressed police officers at the national launch of the Safer Festive Season in Khayelitsha on Friday, 13 October.
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"If you have to, wipe off everything you find there, wipe it off! Don’t tell me about the human rights of criminals here. When someone plans to eliminate lives, it is a complete undermining of the human rights of others. These people should not expect us to be nice to them," Cele said.
The minister said that in Durban, a cash heist gang blasted a cash van while the driver was inside, and his body was shattered into pieces by the explosives.
“The guy was blown to pieces and you are telling me that we have to handle these guys with kid gloves when we find them. No, no!” said Cele.
The launch was attended by law enforcement officials from the City of Cape Town, traffic police officers, fire and rescue services, among others.
