President Cyril Ramaphosa on Friday reacted to the outrage in South Africa over the police shooting to death of a teen with disability.
Mr. Ramaphosa offered his sincere condolences to the family of Nathaniel Julius and the broader community of Eldorado Park, Johannesburg, following the shooting to death by a police officer.
The President said the violent death of any young person is a matter of concern.
“My thoughts and prayers are with the family and neighbours of Nathaniel who has, as a 16-year-old, been deprived of a future and whose tragic death has given rise to anger and unrest in a community that deserves better,” the South African leader said in a statement.
The President said while communities have a right to express dissent, anger should not spill over into action that could worsen the trauma already experienced by citizens.
President Ramaphosa urged residents of Eldorado Park to assist the Independent Police Investigative Directorate in establishing the facts and the culpability or otherwise of any member or members of the South African Police Service in the tragic incident which took place on Wednesday evening, 26 August 2020.
“Justice can only prevail if community workers work with our criminal justice system to address alleged injustice or abuse.”
The President called on Eldorado Park residents and on authorities at municipal and provincial level to work together more closely to address underlying socio-economic challenges in this locality, including the fight against crime.
Simon Ateba is Chief White House Correspondent for Today News Africa. Simon covers President Joe Biden, Vice President Kamala Harris, the U.S. government, the United Nations, the International Monetary Fund, the World Bank and other financial and international institutions in Washington D.C. and New York City.