00:00Attorney-at-law Umlala says, while the Special Operations Bill allows for restrictions that could affect constitutionally protected rights,
00:10the scale of criminality demands decisive action.
00:14Lala tells the morning edition, citizens also need a clear understanding of the framework,
00:19particularly because innocent people could be affected by measures designed to target criminals.
00:26He says the young, the elderly and the other vulnerable citizens must not be overlooked.
00:32If you're putting locking down areas, there should be at least a community meeting.
00:37There should be discussions.
00:38The vulnerable, law-abiding, weak people should not feel intimidated by this law.
00:43And it should be communicated in a way that they understand and go community to community,
00:49members of parliament or whoever, regional corporations, do consultation, make people understand what is going on
00:56and let the commission of police talk about the human rights.
00:59And Lala adds that under this new bill, anyone who believes their rights have been infringed
01:05can seek redress through the courts without having to endure prolonged delays.
01:10The difference in the state of emergency and now the Minister of Home Affairs had the power to detain
01:17with just reasonable cause and it was difficult to actually challenge that.
01:23And that's why even they had aides with accessing the court had such a difficult time.
01:27Under the new proposed bill, within three days you go before a magistrate
01:32and grounds have to be put before the magistrate.
01:34He stresses the country is neither a police state nor a bandit state.
01:40And when asked whether he would support the legislation if he were in the parliament, he had this to say.
01:46I would support it insofar as there is no judicial oversight.
01:51There's a sunset clause.
01:53But I would want to make sure that the mechanisms of the commissioner of police
01:59is talking about his training and body cams and the measures to put the checks and balances
02:04are examined very carefully.
02:07Nicole M. Romany, TV6 News.
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