Police, DIS should end their differences

Mmegi Editor | Monday December 19, 2022 06:00

In our main story for this week, we have a leaked document from the BPS in which they are bewailing the allegedly worrying attitude of the DIS sleuths who reports suggest when they arrived at the Phase 2 house where armed robbers were involved in a bloody shoot-out with the police, the rather trigger happy DIS agents just shot the six men who were trapped in the house even when the police reported to be in total control of the scene of crime.

It’s now common that even when we know by law the police are charged functionally with the responsibility to enforce all written laws, the DIS seems to be involved in a nasty turf war with the police. It’s unfortunate that no one has stepped to the plate to make the DIS account for its actions, even their principals.

However, it is interesting how the police are going to force the DIS to account for the six men they chose to shoot and kill even when the police had informed them they were in total charge of the scene of crime at Phase 2.

We are waiting with bated breath to find out how far the police and DIS matter will go especially after reports that the police are destined to force the DIS to account through inquest proceedings that are to be instituted as a way to close the matter pertaining to the deaths of six men alleged to have been involved in a bank robbery.

At least we are hearing for the first time that the police had declared to the DIS that they were in full control of the scene of crime at Phase 2 before the marksmen from the DIS displayed their marksmanship by silencing all the men at the scene for good. Whilst the police are blessed with full instructions from their Minister of Defence and Security, Kagiso Mmusi to execute criminals, our strongest belief is that where possible, the police should make arrests and ensure criminals face the law than execute them.

Now, in this instance, it’s in the public interest that we publish the police internal document hoping that this matter will bring to an end tendencies by the DIS to play Big Brother role where other security agencies can deliver on their mandate without them.

It has occurred on a number of occasions that the Directorate on Corruption and Economic Crime (DCEC) found itself trapped in similar circumstances with the DIS having usurped its mandate. It’s time the DIS is called to order so that it does not further plunge this country into crisis with endless civil suits.

Today's thought

“Dominance will lead a man to be disregardful and ignorant. But, obedience will lead a man to be a good listener and knowledge seeker.”

Akshay Kulkarni