MPs call for independent police commission
Goitsemodimo Kaelo | Tuesday March 15, 2022 06:00
Modubule had in 2011 tabled a motion in Parliament requesting government to set up an Independent Police Complaints Tribunal to safeguard citizens against police brutality.
At the time, the then Minister of Defence, Justice and Security Edwin Batshu said they were benchmarking on the motion.
Batshu had then stated that the ministry saw it fit to benchmark and have table researches in countries with an Independent Police Tribunal like South Africa, Lesotho and Australia to understand exactly how the institution works.
However, MPs were last week shocked to learn from the substantive minister Kagiso Mmusi that government is still probing how best to implement the motion 11 years on. The legislators expressed worry that Mmusi’s response is exactly similar to that of Batshu even after a decade. “The issue relating to Modubule’s motion still exits and is alive, and we are still looking at it. We are aware of it, and are still looking for ways on how best we can implement it,” Mmusi said.
But MPs questioned government’s commitment towards the establishment of the commission.
MP for Sefhare/Ramokganomi, Dr Kesitegile Gobotswang questioned why there is no progress on the issue for more than 10 years on since government made the promise.
“I want to know if indeed the benchmarking exercise really happened? Are you saying you still looking for ways to find how best to implement this even after 10 years? What exactly are you looking for? Are you committed to ensuring that this independent commission comes to life?” asked Gobotswanag.
For his part, Bobonong MP, Taolo Lucas said government is dragging its feet on the matter. He said that as it is police officers that are accused get away with crime because of the lack of an independent commission to look into cases brought against the police.
Airing his views, Palapye MP, Onneetse Ramogapi also said it was unfair for police officers to be “their own judges” on matters that affect them.
At the time when Modubule called for the establishment of an Independent Police Complaints tribunal, he argued that police brutality had become rampant.
He said this was indicated by the escalating rate of police officers fingered time and again for torture, disappearance and murder of suspects.
Modubule had said the commission would work for aggrieved members of the public when they raise complaints against police officers for brutality. He said then an independent police complaints tribunal would ensure that cases of police brutality were disposed of fairly without favouritism.
In recent times, there were reports of cases of police brutality during the State of Emergency (SoE). However, Mmusi denied that they registered cases of police brutality during the SoE period.