LHR condemns deputy police minister's remarks

Lawyers for Human Rights (LHR) has condemned Deputy Police Minister Makhotso Sotyu’s remarks on the recent police killings.

Speaking at the memorial service for slain police officers on 4 August 2015, Sotyu told mourners that “our strategic implementation plan must always intend to treat heinous criminals as outcasts, who must neither have place in the society nor peace in their cells. They must be treated as cockroaches”.

LHR said the remarks are not only insulting but also demonstrate an alarming lack of awareness of the values set out in the Bill of Rights and the legislation regulating the treatment of detainees.

“Within the Bill of Rights is the right of everyone to security of the person which includes the right not to be treated or punished in a cruel, inhumane or degrading way. It also provides that detainees are assured the right to be held in conditions of detentions that are consistent with human dignity,” said a statement issued by LHR on Friday.

LHR added that the legislation also makes it clear that offenders do, in fact, “have a place in society” and it is the purpose of our correctional facilities to promote “social responsibility and human development”.

“Minister Sotyu’s statements can only be understood to have intended to insult, cause grave harm and advocate hatred. We thus call on her to retract clarify or retract her remarks and apologise.

“Being in a position of authority, Minister Sotyu has a duty to lead by example and uphold the laws of the country,” said the statement.