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Two suspects connected to the recent killing of seven family members, including three children, in Hlokozi, Highflats, were reportedly killed in a shoot-out with police. The Democratic Alliance (DA) has expressed concern over the use of "deadly force" by KwaZulu-Natal police and is calling for the implementation of body cameras to monitor police actions.
Police Minister Senzo Mchunu revealed that 107 suspects were killed by KZN police between July 2023 and July 2024, with only one police officer arrested in connection with these incidents. Mchunu was responding to questions from DA member Mzamo Billy, who highlighted a report indicating that more than 30 suspects had been killed by KZN police from May to August.
Billy pointed out that KZN has consistently recorded the highest number of police-related killings, citing an Independent Police Investigative Directorate report that showed 108 out of 364 suspects killed by police in 2022/2023 were in the province. He expressed concern about the high number of fatalities, stating, “While it is known that suspected criminals do not spare the police, this level of violence remains alarming. The use of deadly force by SAPS should not be deemed an acceptable response to rising crime. It risks undermining public trust in law enforcement and the criminal justice system.”
Billy called for a well-funded crime prevention strategy that involves collaboration between government and community stakeholders. He emphasized the need for evidence-based policing, strategic allocation of resources according to crime rates, and an urgent examination of body cameras for monitoring police interactions.
He argued that body cameras would benefit both police and suspects, noting that former Police Minister Bheki Cele had promised to prioritize their procurement in May 2019, but none have been acquired. “Cameras don’t lie. They serve two purposes: to prevent police brutality and to help identify areas needing further training and resources,” Billy stated.
The province has faced scrutiny due to a series of police-involved killings, receiving both support from residents and criticism from crime experts who label the approach as "aggressive" and "heavy-handed." In response, provincial police commissioner Lt-Gen Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi defended police actions, asserting that most fatalities occur during self-defense situations. He emphasized, “We [the police] are the last line of defense between good and bad. If it means criminals must die, so be it. If it means we must die, so be it.”