Unruly Students Forced Police To Use Force � Makgophe
Pini Bothoko | Monday February 20, 2017 15:45
Makgophe said this when addressing the media during 45th Senior Officers’ Annual Conference that was held at Special Support Group (SSG) Band Hall last Friday.
He expressed concern about the students’ behaviour following the recent riots by the University of Botswana (UB), Botho University and Baisago University College students.
He said demonstrating students damaged school properties, police cars and people’s properties something that forced the police to use a little bit of force when trying to arrest the offenders. “The police monitored the strike for two weeks without assaulting students because they did not damage anything, how can we all of a sudden change and start assaulting them for no reason,” Makgophe added: “As the police we are a civilised institution.
We cannot deny people to demonstrate if they feel their rights have been violated, but they should do that in a good way without damaging properties,” Makgophe said.
Recently, there were reports that the police assaulted students, with one student allegedly shot and several badly injured. UB students rioted following delay in payments of their allowances while Botho University students complained of lack of accreditation to majority of their courses.
Makgophe said it is a worry that members of the media do not report about students’ damages but only focus on police brutality.
“Our responsibility as the police is to protect people and their properties. When properties are damaged, we make sure that such offenders are brought to book. If they resist we are allowed by the law to use force,” Makgophe said. He said they respected the rights of the students but following their unruly behaviour the police used force.
“We cannot abuse our authority as the police, nobody is above the law. We cannot allow students to damage properties because they feel that their rights have been violated. The police are aware that they should only use force when it is absolutely necessary,” Makgophe said.
Makgophe pleaded with the media to also blame the students so that they can learn to demonstrate properly.
“There is a need for students to be educated on proper ways of handling issues without violating other people or damaging properties. A lot of funds will be used to maintain such properties hence costing Government,” Makgophe said.
He said as the police they are used to abuse from members of the public but these are never reported in the media as a way of educating the public.
“We will not condone police brutality. If there are some police officers who assault people who are not resisting to be arrested, it is against the law and action will be taken against such individuals,” Makgophe said.