CAPE TOWN, Feb. 22 (Xinhua) -- South African MPs on Thursday called for speedy intervention to stop increased attacks on police officers amid rampant crimes.
This followed the killing of five police officers by a group of unidentified gunmen at a police station in Ngcobo, Eastern Cape Province on Wednesday.
The attack highlights the vulnerability of unsecured police stations across the country, Parliament's Select Committee on Security and Justice said.
Police stations in other parts of the country have also come under attack, said the committee.
The committee urged the SAPS to urgently address security at police stations.
"The South African Police Service (SAPS) should urgently address this matter to ensure the protection of its members, both on and off duty," said Committee Chairperson Simphiwe Mthimunye.
According to statistics provided by Parliament, 57 police officers were killed in 2016/17.
Mthimunye blamed poor enforcement of gun control laws for the increase in police killing.
He cited 2016/17 crime statistics as saying that 18 to 21 murders are committed daily with guns.
"The SAPS must therefore ensure effective implementation of the Firearms Control Act of 2000, tighten firearms control measures and root out fraud and corruption among police officials in the gun licencing process to prevent the loss, theft and sale to criminals of legal confiscated and surrendered guns," Mthimunye said.
The Select Committee will be interacting with the SAPS on budget and resourcing to provinces and police stations, he said.
