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“ALL RISE” droned the Registrar……my brief interlude into the life of a riot policeman had been cut short by a less interesting sort of judge.

He hates his job. He’s been on the force for many moons.

The Cape High Court is our setting, the blank stare of bureaucrats permeates.  Her excellency and assessors delay arrival, I make small-talk with a thick-set policeman. A riot-cop/court guard with a brushcut so stifly gelled I’m bizarrely tempted to test it’s rigidity……haven’t we all. Mark is charming and insightful (well, maybe charming is too strong a word, but lets give him the benefit of the doubt).

After discussing the case presiding, a gang-related set of accusations ranging from rape to murder- we move on, to Beki Cele’s militarization of the SAPS. A heavily-accented tough guy- Mark is under no illusions as to Cele’s motives. Imposing an army code structure fits very nicely with the commissioner’s dictatorial style, lest we forget that egos always need massaging. “Commissioner” reeks of a rubber-stamping desk-job, he prefers to feel like he can declare war at any time. On crime? Less likely than the next State-president being Helen Zille. Lets try Lesotho AGAIN, leaving the thieves to pillage in piece.

“the bigwigs can say what they want and change what they like, the SAPS will stay the same. Irrespective of whether I’m called “Inspector” or “Warrant Officer.” his qualm lies with the red-tape surrounding the employment of military style strong-arm tactics such as “shoot to kill” ( infamously messaged to the SAPS by JZ in June last year).    Proving self-defence every time an armed robber is gunned down is a risk too far, cops jeopardise a multitude of assets- most pertinently the job security that comes with having no criminal record.

Even more of a challenge is the mismarriage of the Constitution and militarization. Military style rules of engagement require that soldiers be fired upon before resorting to weaponed retaliation, how this gels with rights to self-defence is anyone’s guess.

In Mark’s opinion, the riot management style adopted in 1994 (the French “gendarmerie” approach) is not effective in South Africa. According to various sources, it was adopted to bring SA in line with international policing standards.    Although this technique is considered “intensive” on a world scale, our fine Republic’s dynamics call for a sui generis approach. The scale of trade-union strikes and ferocity thereof pose big problems to riot units. A point in case being SATAWU’s trashing of the Cape Town CBD last year (in which Mark was made to retreat for fear of his life).

As far as he is concerned, a further problem lies in that: “the trade unions are never brought to book for instigating mayhem.”

Jeepers creepers! this policeman should be way past his lowly rank of inspector, had I just discovered a man of Enobarban proportions?!? Enobarbus: a lowly sailor in Shakespeare’a Anthony & Cleopatra; imparted with wisdomary befitting only Caesar himself. And who would be as foolhardy to disagree. The tripartite alliance between COSATU, the SACP and the ANC makes this a major political issue when it should not be, unaccountable trade unions are dangerous animals.

On the plus side, militarization could allow Mark and his heavies to legitimately do what they’ve been doing all along. Violent crime is best dealt with violently- this is the only language which our sneaky criminals understand. The incorrect stakeholders in this issue are being protected- guys like Mark that risk their lives for this great nation need to stop receiving messages loaded with double-standards.

however laudable the top-brass’ shoot to kill dialogue;

it is, like much of government policy- constitutionally dubious.

• Posted on Tuesday, August 3rd, 2010
• 2 comments