The Centre for Human Rights, Faculty of Law, University of Pretoria, expresses its deep concern and dismay about the killing by members of the South African Police Force of demonstrators on 16 August 2012. Available evidence gives rise to serious questions about the appropriateness and proportionality of the Police response.

The Centre therefore calls on President Zuma to immediately appoint an independent commission of inquiry to investigate the causes and to establish responsibility for the killings. An internal Police or government inquiry would in our view constitute a ‘business as usual’-approach, which is not a suitable response to the extremity of the alarming events.

This is not the first time in recent years that the Police or other security personnel have been involved in the apparently disproportionate or unjustified use of force or violence.

The independent commission of inquiry should therefore contextualize its work against the background of these trends and tendencies.

The government should further take steps to ensure that the relevant officials are trained, and that an appropriate legal framework is in place, to prevent death and injury through the use of force.

For more information, please contact

Prof Charles Fombad, Centre for Human Rights,
Tel: 012 420-3377
Email: charles.fombad@up.ac.za