© SowetanFrans-Baleni, NUM General Secretary
The union called on the authorities to reign in the criminal elements within the police force.
"The NUM is bitterly angry at the increasing lawlessness displayed by the police and warns the authorities that our beautiful country is rapidly turning into a police state after it allowed the police management and leadership under General Bheki Cele to militarise the police service," the NUM said.
The NUM said it was concerned by the increasing use of force and the ease with which the police were used by capital to brutalise and harass peaceful protesters.
"This kind of harassment can only harden the attitude of communities towards the police" said Sello Mfikoe, the NUM's regional organiser, in Rustenburg.
The NUM said it rejected with contempt the arrogance of certain elements of the force as displayed during the protest in Brits and called on the Independent Complaints Directorate to investigate and take decisive action to protect the integrity of SA's democracy.
"It is scandalous that in every intimidatory tactic, be it death threats to ordinary citizens and leaders opposed to corruption or poor whistleblowers and protesters, police are increasingly caught in the middle.
"The NUM calls on the police management to ensure the arrest and prosecution of all those involved and those involved in the death of its leader in North West, Pullman Dlamini. Dlamini died in police hands during elections," it said.
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