This weekend's daring robbery of the Badplaas police station in Mpumalanga demonstrates the sheer disregard for the police service.
Three armed men entered the police station on Saturday just after midnight, held up police officers and stole a R5 assault rifle, police pistols and cash.
The FF Plus strongly condemns this incident. This is, unfortunately, a clear demonstration of the level of lawlessness in South Africa as well as criminals' sheer disregard for the police.
This disregard is the result of poor prosecution and inadequate punishments and the FF Plus will keep insisting that criminals who commit robberies and murder must be given the heaviest penalties possible.
Automatic assault rifles are the weapons of choice used most often in transit heists and frequently also in farm attacks – ordinary citizens are absolutely powerless against these weapons.
They may not end up in the hands of criminals.
An incident like this raises many burning questions about the police's ability to defend itself and the lack of manpower at police stations.
While it is becoming more and more difficult for ordinary citizens to arm themselves lawfully, it is unacceptable that criminals can attack police stations and make off with automatic firearms.
Ordinary citizens cannot be expected to effectively defend themselves against these types of criminals if police stations are not even able to.
Contact details: 084 652 9164 / 076 687 2830
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