A shootout between suspects and police in Ntuzuma, KwaZulu-Natal on Tuesday, has led to the death of a cop and the hospitalisation of another officer.
Among those shot were two women.
Simultaneously, four other suspects were shot in a separate shootout in KwaMashu, police confirmed on Tuesday.
“Police were acting on intelligence about a group of suspects who were terrorising the community of Ntuzuma and the surrounding areas with house robberies and other serious crimes. The same group would brandish firearms on social media,” police said.
“At another crime scene, four suspected business robbers were shot and injured in a shootout with police in KwaMashu. The two incidents happened almost simultaneously.”
Ongoing crime challenges
The recent shootings highlight the ongoing crime challenges in the province, despite Police Minister Bheki Cele having confirmed a slight decrease in crime rates in August.
At the time, crime statistics for the first quarter of 2023 showed a decline in murders, rapes, hijackings, and robberies with aggravating circumstances in the region compared to the same period in 2022.
It was confirmed at the time that the Inanda police station continued to record the highest number of rapes and murders in the country.
Speaking to the media at the crime scene in Ntuzuma, Cele confirmed that more than 10 murders were reported between September and October.
With the safety of KwaZulu-Natal residents hanging in the balance, Cele is faced with rapidly increasing pressure to address the scourge of crime both provincially and nationally.
During the launch of Operation Shanela in Durban in August, Cele urged officials of the South African Police Services to enforce the law and fight crime to the best of their abilities.
The operation is a multi-disciplinary tactic aimed at intensifying the fight against crime.
“Your job is to be an asset, not to be a liability to the people of this country,” the minister said, warning police officers to focus on protecting communities and to refrain from engaging in criminal activities.
He stated that the operation requires collaboration and teamwork, asking the police to join forces with the community policing forums.
