Jacob Zuma

South Africa police do not have a "licence to kill", President Jacob Zuma said on Friday, a day after his deputy police minister urged officers to "shoot the bastards" in fighting criminals. "No police officer has permission to shoot suspects in circumstances other than those provided for by law. The law does not give the police a licence to kill," said Zuma. Zuma issued a statement after deputy minister Fikile Mbalula pushed Thursday for tougher police action, saying the killing of innocent victims would be unavoidable amid an outcry over the fatal shooting of a three-year-old boy. "Yes. Shoot the bastards. Hard-nut to crack, ... Read Full Story

JOHANNESBURG (Reuters) - South African police do not have a license to shoot to kill, President Jacob Zuma said on Friday, but vowed the government would press on with a tough crackdown on rampant crime ahead of the 2010 FIFA World Cup. South Africa has one of the world's highest rates of violent crime and Zuma has appointed a tough talking police chief and made the fight against crime a top priority. Zuma said in a statement police should act within the law when they are forced to use deadly force. "However, we expect our police officers to observe the law and respect the ... Read Full Story

The acrid smell of burning tires filled Sakhile township Thursday as angry residents vowed violent protests until President Jacob Zuma heeds their service delivery complaints. In the latest of several recent flare-ups in South Africa, thick black smoke hung over Sakhile's rubbish-strewn streets three weeks after the area was transformed into a no-go area. Frustrated residents want Zuma, who took office in May, to respond personally to their plight. "President Zuma promised to rid government of corruption and lazy officials. Our council here is busy lining their pockets with the money meant for improving our living conditions," said Sandile Mahlangu. "We have ran out ... Read Full Story

The 44-nation Pan-African Parliament needs full legislative powers to bolster peace, democracy and growth on the continent, South African President Jacob Zuma said Monday. "We remain committed to the aim of the Pan-African Parliament to evolve into an institution with full legislative power, whose members are elected by universal suffrage," Zuma told the first meeting of the body's second parliament. Zuma said the 220-member parliament, made up of five MPs from 44 African Union (AU) member states, had weighty issues to consider during its term. "Critically it has to ensure that its deliberations strengthen the continent-wide effort to promote development, economic growth, peace, stability ... Read Full Story

The South African government will not tolerate violent protests that have rocked poor townships, President Jacob Zuma said Tuesday while calling for service delivery to be stepped up. "Burning down libraries, torching people's houses, and looting spaza (small) shops do not build a strong nation. It does not solve our legitimate problems," Zuma told a meeting of 238 mayors in Cape Town's Khayelitsha township. South Africa has been hit by a series of service delivery riots since July in communities fed up with shoddy public service, with calls for Zuma to meet promises to speed up delivery and act against corrupt officials. "There is ... Read Full Story