In the wake of nine wanted murder and armed robbery suspects who were shot and fatally wounded in four different shooting incidents with police in four days in KwaZulu-Natal, has prompted the Provincial Commissioner of KwaZulu-Natal, Lieutenant General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi, to issue a stern warning to criminals who shoot at police officers that they will not back down.Lt-Gen Mkhwanazi in his warning, said criminals who shoot at police officers must know that police will not back down, but stamp the authority of the state to ensure that the lives of police officers are preserved and also ensure that the residents of KwaZulu-Natal are protected from hardened criminals who do not hesitate to spill the blood.
Colonel Robert Netshiunda, KZN police spokesperson, said: “Three suspects who were wanted for multiple murders including that of Sergeant Yekani Siboniso Thabete, were shot and fatally wounded at the Congo area of Inanda on Tuesday,23 July. Sergeant Thabete, who was a member of the KwaMashu Tracking Team, was attacked, disarmed, shot, and killed with his service firearm.
On Thursday, 25 July, one suspect was fatally wounded when he attempted to kill police officers by shooting at them in the Madlankala area in Esikhaleni. He was part of a group of suspects who had bombed an ATM at a store earlier on the day.”
In the early hours of Friday morning, three more suspects engaged in a gunfight with police and were fatally wounded at a house in the KwaDlangezwa area in Empangeni.
“They were also suspected to have been part of the ATM bombing which occurred on Thursday.
Another two suspects also came out second on Friday morning when they tested their shooting skills against the police. The two, who were members of the notorious West Gang, were cornered at a house in the Angola area of Amaoti in Inanda. They were wanted for at least four murder cases,” Col Netshiunda said.
Lt-Gen Mkhwanazi said that police have a mandate to investigate and bring perpetrators to justice. He said that if criminals cooperate with law enforcement, no shootouts will occur.
“In the past three months, we have arrested over 35 000 suspects who did not fight with the police. They will be taken through the justice system as our laws dictate, however, those suspects who put the lives of police officers and residents in danger by resisting arrest through gunshots, leave police with no option but to return fire in self-defence and neutralise the danger,” said Lt-Gen Mkhwanazi.
He added that he was pleased that no police officers sustained any injuries during the four shooting incidents.
