Neelam Rahim | neelam@radioislam.co.za

3-minute read
04 August 2024 | 14:15 CAT

Between 6 October and 3 November, KwaZulu-Natal police reported that 19 people had been killed in seven shootouts with police. Getty Images

In recent months, KwaZulu-Natal has seen a worrying surge in fatal confrontations between police and suspected criminals, with over 31 deaths reported in the past three months. This alarming trend has raised significant concern.

KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Police Commissioner Lieutenant-General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi, who is responsible for overseeing all police operations in the province, last week confirmed that KZN police had shot and killed at least 40 alleged criminal suspects in shootouts since the beginning of April 2024 alone.

This surge has heightened scrutiny of police in KwaZulu-Natal and sparked a debate about the use of force by police. The police, on the other hand, argue that they are often forced to use deadly force in these situations to protect themselves and the public.

Speaking to Radio Islam International, Police Expert Dr Johan Burger explained that in recent months, the number of incidents in which many suspected criminals have been shot dead by cops in comparison to the other provinces has become notable.

However, Dr Burger pointed out that there have been similar incidents in the Eastern Cape in recent weeks.

“KwaZulu-Natal has a history of not just violent crimes that is themselves committed by criminal gangs but also the number of suspects killed by the police during shoot outs,” Dr Burger says.

He underscored the necessity of comprehensive investigations into these incidents, stressing that it should not be limited to the immediate circumstances but should encompass a broader study into the nature of violence perpetrated by these gangs and the level of force, particularly deadly force, used by the police.

Meanwhile, the crime statistics paint a grim picture. In the first three months of 2023, KwaZulu-Natal reported a staggering 1,649 murder cases, with Inanda, Umlazi and KwaMashu among the worst affected areas.

Inanda was noted as the “murder capital of South Africa”, recording 93 killings, followed by Umlazi with 59 and KwaMashu with 52. Sexual assault cases also remain high, though there has been a decline in reported rapes in Umlazi and Inanda.

KwaZulu-Natal has consistently had the country’s worst crime statistics, including for burglary and robbery with aggravating circumstances. In the 2014/2015 financial year, the province accounted for 3,800 out of 17,000 murder cases in South Africa.

Listen here to the full interview on The Daily Round Up with Moulana Junaid Kharsany and Dr Johan Burger.