Police Minister Senzo Mchunu has voiced strong support for members of the South African Police Service (SAPS) who use lethal force in confrontations with suspected criminals, clarifying that the real threat comes from criminals who are “shooting to kill.” Mchunu’s comments were made in response to recent critical media portrayals of SAPS officers as “trigger-happy.”
During his address on Tuesday, Mchunu praised the actions of police officers who had recently engaged in fatal shootouts with suspects, particularly highlighting incidents in KwaZulu-Natal. “We can’t be complaining about everything. You complain about the high rates of crime and condemn the police for not acting. They defend themselves when they act and prevent them by shooting at them. We come forward, but we say nothing about communities that, from time to time, fall victim to such killing gangs,” he stated.
Mchunu stressed that it was incorrect and unjust to label the police as trigger-happy and announced plans to meet with concerned groups, reflecting on South Africa’s democratic values.
“We want to send a message out there to gangs and individuals: if you shoot at police, you must not expect that police will not respond. They need to defend themselves. Police are humans, they are not stones. They are fathers and mothers, husbands and wives. They can’t just give themselves up to criminals. They need to survive so they can defend the community against another criminal tomorrow,” the minister emphasized.
The statement followed a string of violent encounters, including a July operation in KwaZulu-Natal where nine suspects linked to murder and armed robbery were killed over four days. Additionally, a sting operation in Khayelitsha, Cape Town, resulted in eight fatalities among suspected cash-in-transit robbers, with 14 firearms and four vehicles seized.
These incidents contribute to ongoing national discussions about crime control, which featured prominently at the ANC national executive committee lekgotla in Boksburg. Mchunu admitted that while crime is somewhat under control, it continues to be a significant concern.
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