Police Minister Bheki Cele says the officer who said “Is Mohammed bigger than the president?” during a raid of a Mosque has been cleared.
News24 tweeted the comment by Cele on Friday.
A video circulated on social media showed police entering the place of worship in Masibekela in the Mbuzini area in Mpumalanga, being overly excessive when breaking up the congregation and insulting Prophet Muhammad (PBUH).
Cele apologised to the Muslim community for the blasphemous remarks by officers during the arrest of a group of Muslims who violated the COVID-19 lockdown regulations.
However, according to Cele the officer was not referring to Prophet Muhammad (PBUH).
“He was referring to a person called Mohammed and not the Prophet Mohammed.”
Cele also defended police officers against allegations of heavy-handedness during the lockdown saying community members themselves are provocative to the police.
On Thursday, National Freedom Party (NFP) MP Manzoor Shaikh Imam told Radio Islam while Cele did not apologise for officers arresting the worshippers violating the lockdown, he did say their conduct was unacceptable.
Faizel Patel
Police Minister Bheki Cele says the police officer who said "Is Mohammed bigger than the president?" during a raid of a Mosque has been cleared, as he was referring to a person called Mohammed and not the Prophet Mohammed. (@gerbjan)
— Team News24 (@TeamNews24) May 8, 2020
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