Boksburg - Police men and women are not recruited so that they can be slaughtered by criminals, says National Police Commissioner Bheki Cele.
"We do not recruit men and women to join the South African Police Service (SAPS) so they can be slaughtered," Cele told a summit on police killings on Friday, convened by the ministry.
The commissioner said police are faced with having to deal with professional operatives, who plan their operations with military precision. He described these criminals as not your run-of-the mills thugs, who simply wake up one day and decide they are going out on a score.
"You tell me that I should send out my colleagues who are only trained to maintain the peace among ordinary civilians to be slaughtered by these para-militaries We won't do that," remarked Cele?
He said "extra-special thugs" who have over the years killed police officers deserve the attention of extra special police.
Also speaking at the summit, Police Minister Nathi Mthethwa said since the beginning of the year nationwide, 48 police officers have been killed, adding that the high murder rate of officers affected the morale of other officers while also traumatising the families and other colleagues.
"Police are human, we refuse to be dehumanised," said Cele, adding that members of the SAPS specialised units "did not simply wake up and decide to go into the streets to instigate violence."
"They only go out on a strictly by invitation only basis."
The extra mental and physical strain placed on special units as a result of having to protect the public from violence was also noted by Cele, saying that they are monitored for post-traumatic stress disorder during and after their period of service.
The commissioner said that in the ideal South Africa, the role of the SAPS would be to prevent crime from taking place as opposed to reacting to criminal incidents.
Cele also expressed concern at the frequency of police funerals. "Hardly a weekend has gone by without us in the SAPS family having to bury one or more casualties. It is painful having to give caps and national flags to widows."
Even though this was happening, police officers continued to do their jobs.
Cele said the men and women in blue are sent to refresher and advanced training at regular intervals, adding that fitness has also been placed under the spotlight.
The commissioner also spoke out against officers who do not wear their bulletproof vests while on duty.
Secretary of Police, Jenni Irish-Qhobosheane, said research conducted in 1999 to 2000 showed that the highest number of police officers killed was constables and that in 20 percent of cases, officers were killed while responding to crime calls.
Those attending the summit, including research and academic institutions, Community Policing Forums and NGOs, amongst others, are expected to sign a pledge at its closing.