Paper in Cele's sights
Instructions to police to "aim for the head" in their fight against criminals did not necessarily mean to kill.
Suspended national police commissioner Bheki Cele is suing Sowetan for defamation. At the Johannesburg High Court, Cele claimed that a manipulated picture of him carrying a gun on July 7 2007 had injured his person.
He also said articles written about him in the newspaper were unbalanced.
"The statement 'aim for the head' was made after a police officer died. He was chasing the criminal and shot him in the leg and when he [the officer] approached the suspect he was then shot and killed. If the police officer had aimed for the head, the suspect and not the officer would have been buried instead," he said.
On a number of occasions, Cele appeared to be irked by advocate Hamilton Maenetje's questions. Maenetje was leading the defence's legal team.
"You don't know what I was trained for," he stormed when Maenetje asked him if he was ever taught about the use of a gun during his time as a member of Mkhonto weSizwe.
Cele told the court that Sowetan was unbalanced in its reporting about him. "In addition to the doctored picture of me, I found them to be unbalanced."
Maenetje then put it to him that The Citizen newspaper had also run a number of stories in which he was said to have used the words "shoot to kill".
But, Cele said it was not only the articles that bothered him, but the picture of him carrying a rifle.
He also admitted that the state had been paying for his legal fees.
"The Department of Transport were paying for me and I assume that they are still paying."
Cele also said an article that implied that he ordered police to kill eight people was wrong and unbalanced.
"The picture is but one of the things that made me sue. The articles and the subheading where it was stated that I ordered the police to kill the suspects was also considered," he said.
"Political heads of police do not command police officers. The article implied that I ordered the police to shoot those people, but that was simply not true. "
He also said he would be in prison for genocide if he had ordered the killing of "all" criminals as had allegedly been suggested in the news reports.
"I find it unfortunate that the reporter could not get hold of me, my spokesperson and a whole lot of people who could have spoken on my behalf," he said.
Cele's hearing concerning his suspension is due to start on February 13.
SHARE YOUR OPINION
If you have an opinion you would like to share on this article, please send us an e-mail to the Times LIVE iLIVE team. In the mean time, click here to view the Times LIVE iLIVE section.BornintheRSA
Posted 113 days agoooooooooo
Posted 113 days agoThis has become a trademark of the ANC. If you don't like the heat sue and the taxpayers will pay the bill.
Patsekg
Posted 113 days agoScribbles
Hardly!
The papers may run on thin ice but that's an exceptionally weak rationalization for implementing a bill which will essentially leave the citizens in the dark regarding state affairs. You may be happy to ignore what your government is up to but I am not.
SuiGeneris
Posted 113 days agoCele, your statement was meant literally......
So what is your case about suing the Sowetan ?
MartinHedington
Of course it was SG but politics, potential litigation and 'TV Gunplay' aside, IMO the real core issue was the lack of tactical training of the member. Firstly, in most life-threatening combat scenarios one aims for the centre-of-mass, i.e. the body, that being the biggest and therefore easiest target to hit, thus its much more likely to cancel an immediate threat.
Secondly, unless the target is very obviously and visibly rendered a 'non-threat' either by a hit or their disposal of any weaponry, one must keep the target within ones sights until established as neutralised, disarmed and cuffed.
Martin Hedington.
X-Treme Community Safety (NPO)
zindela
Posted 113 days agoSuiGeneris
Why ?...... Was he perhaps hauled over the coals for making such a foolish literal statement publicly and now he he trying to cover himself by saying that he was ''quoted out of context'' ?
I wouldn't mind if they blow their heads off at every crime in progress, but for the chief of police to make such a statement in public is a fatal mistake.....
Unfortunately, by law, the police have to use the minimum force to make an arrest.
swona1
Posted 112 days agotalib
I do not see anything wrong when the General makes such statements I do not understand why people like to make a fuss bout shoot to kill one thing that we must remember sec 49 of
cpe states it clearly that when your life or someone elses life is in danger you may use
force how much force you will use will be determimed by the circumstances if someone pulls
a gun on me my partner or another person I will with no hesitation aim for his head Im quit sure wont miss because i was properly trained
I have never seen it anywhere wr it says i must shoot the leg if he is armed i shoot to kill
so if a suspect is running away and is armed thhere is no other way
horse1#
Posted 112 days ago