The use of dogs by the South African police is to be restricted after the screening this week of a video showing white police setting their dogs on black suspects, Safety and Security Minister Steve Tshwete said Saturday.
Tshwete said this would include banning the use of police dogs to control crowds, a practice that was widespread under the apartheid regime.
"A dog is a dangerous weapon. We don't want them near any crowd situation," Tshwete told a press conference in Pretoria.
In addition the use of patrol dogs is to be limited to the tackling of suspects in serious crimes.
"In future, tackles will only be permissible for serious offences, such as murder, rape, and armed robbery -- and not for petty offences, such as trespassing," the minister said.
Dog units will also be required to keep a record of each tackle and the extent of each bite inflicted by a patrol dog.
The move has been prompted by the screening of an amateur video on national television earlier this week that showed six white officers at a dog unit on Johannesburg's North East Rand setting their dogs on three black men suspected of being illegal aliens.
The policemen also beat up the suspects, who are believed to be Mozambican, and called them "bastards" and "kaffirs" -- a racist term for black people.
The six officers have been arrested on charges of attempted murder.
Tshwete said all police dog handlers at the country's 68 dog units would in future have to undergo psychological evaluation to see whether they were fit for the job.
He also said that the skewed ratio of black to white officers in these units would be righted.
"Nationally, the ratio of black members compared to white staff is 38 percent to 62 percent. We need to improve that," Tshwete said.
The incident has caused an outcry in South Africa, with many believing the policemen's action was driven by racism.
Tshwete said the police had been inundated with letters from people who were disgusted by what they saw.
"We have also received threats from people saying they would shoot any dog unit policeman entering a township," Tshwete said, adding that other people had threatened to kill policemen.
President Thabo Mbeki Saturday said the footage was proof of degeneration in South African society, SABC public radio reported – PRETORIA (AFP)
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