Fikile Mbalula stands by vulgar remarks regarding police handling of criminals
Police Minister Fikile Mbalula stood by vulgar remarks he made regarding how police officers should respond to violent criminal behaviour, in a written reply to questions from Parliament released on Friday. The minister elicited much criticism when he started advocating for a heavy-handed response to dangerous criminals and the use of colourful language to instruct officers responding to crime. When Mbalula re-launched the South African Police Service Tactical Response Team, he declared war on criminals, saying "bazo chama bawuphuze" (they shall pee and drink their urine), to criminals who threatened the lives of police and civilians, and referred to "squeezing the balls" of offenders. Asked by COPE MP Willie Madisha whether he would be prepared to withdraw the obscene remarks, Mbalula said he had no intention of doing so, nor any desire to. "Crushing of balls means crushing violent criminals’ courage, it is accepted that the courage or aggression could come from the amount of testo...
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