My country could go the way of other African countries

Two reports have already come to light concerning controversial acts by alleged members of the Directorate of Intelligence and Security Services (DISS). The first was that intelligence agents had brutally tortured some members of both the defence force and the police service.

This was apparently done as part of an exercise to identify those who had stolen a service rifle, which was later used to commit robberies in a nearby village. This raises the question: why should the intelligence service, which is supposed to be concerned with protecting a broad spectrum of national interests, involve itself in a narrow criminal investigation of this nature, which should clearly be the exclusive responsibility of the police service?

Admittedly, the two services will need to cooperate with each other from time to time, but not on a straightforward police issue of this type.  
The second report was about a gathering of police officers that was addressed by the minister responsible for defence and security, at which the minister had to parry frank and embarrassing questions regarding some members of the public who had complained to the police about having been tortured, presumably by intelligence agents who had described themselves to their victims as police officers.

Editor's Comment
Human rights are sacred

It highlights the need to protect rights such as access to clean water, education, healthcare and freedom of expression.President Duma Boko, rightly honours past interventions from securing a dignified burial for Gaoberekwe Pitseng in the CKGR to promoting linguistic inclusion. Yet, they also expose a critical truth, that a nation cannot sustainably protect its people through ad hoc acts of compassion alone.It is time for both government and the...

Have a Story? Send Us a tip
arrow up