Police killings must be declared an act of treason - unions

• Police Unions want attacks on police to be declared an act of treason.
• Two off-duty constables were shot multiple times on Tuesday in Gugulethu and are still in hospital. 
• Popcru said it was the police's mandate to prevent, combat and investigate crime, not to be killed.

The South African Police Union (SAPU) and the Police and Prisons Civil Rights Union (Popcru) in the Western Cape want President Cyril Ramaphosa to declare attacks on police an act of treason. 

This followed an attack in Gugulethu in Cape Town, on two off-duty constables, who were shot multiple times on Tuesday.

"The victims were taken to medical facilities for treatment. According to reports, the victims were driving in the street when they came under attack," said police spokesperson Sergeant Wesley Twigg.

Police said the motive for the attack was under investigation, and the officers were recovering in hospital. 

SAPU spokesperson Lesiba Thobakgale said the union was disturbed at the number of officers, working to protect communities, being killed on and off duty. 

"We have been on record, and are placing it again, that the president must declare police killings treason as a matter of urgency," said Thobakgale.

He asked how many more police officers must be killed before it was considered treason.

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"We believe that the SAPS must give state protection to members when they are faced with danger towards their lives and for our members to be able to act when faced with life-threatening situations," said Thobakgale.

Popcru spokesperson Pat Raolane said there was not enough manpower or enough boots on the ground to tackle the ongoing crisis of attacks on police officers.

"We have a shortage of police officers due to early retirement. This, coupled with rising deaths and stress-related illness in most of our units, complicates everything. We must recruit and train more officers," said Raolane. 

Popcru said it was the police's mandate to prevent, combat and investigate crime, not to be killed on and off duty.  

"We are not happy that our members are dying at an alarmingly high rate. [It seems that] criminals who attack our officers enjoy more rights than officers. 

Raolane said: 

Speaking of corrupt officers, Popcru said it was unfortunate that some chose to go down the wrong path while serving the people. 

"Some officers are no longer in the force, and some have been jailed by the many good cops who saw fit to expose some bad cops among us.

"Police unions will never stand behind corrupt officers. We are here to serve and protect our country," added Raolane. 

READ | Two off-duty police officers shot multiple times in Cape Town

"While further scrutiny of the pattern suggests most police officials are attacked while executing their duties, a considerable number suffer attacks while off duty," said Potelwa. 

"As part of operational readiness, commanders ensure all police officials under their command are continuously trained to be vigilant, alert and able to defend themselves when they come under attack or are in imminent danger.

"While attacks on police officials are disheartening, they do not deter SAPS members from doing their primary duty of ensuring that communities are safe," she said. 

According to Potelwa, at times, the attacks are aimed at preventing the police from effecting arrests and executing operational activities such as confiscating drugs, alcohol, firearms and other weapons. 

"It has [also] been determined that some attacks are directed at SAPS members because of the police firearms that are targeted. The attacks can be so severe that they result in the unfortunate loss of life," Potelwa said. 

SAPS said September was police safety month, with various activities to bring awareness to the scourge of attacks on police. These included awareness drives to inform communities of the seriousness of attacking officers.