South Africa’s deputy police minister has stood by his force’s tough, shoot-to-kill policy, days after a three-year-old boy was shot dead by officers.
Fikile Mbalula said it was inevitable that innocent people would get caught in crossfire.
And referring to what he called “incorrigible criminals”, he urged the police to “shoot the bastards”.
The boy was killed on Saturday as police hunted a murder suspect, sparking a national outcry.
“Yes. Shoot the bastards. Hard-nut to crack, incorrigible criminals,” Mr Mbalula said.