Police have no option but to 'defend themselves' when met with 'heavy gunfire'

JOHANNESBURG - National Police Commissioner Fannie Masemola says when his officers come under fire from criminals, they have no choice but to respond in kind.

His comments come against the backdrop of multiple police shootings in recent times in KwaZulu-Natal (KZN), where provincial commissioner Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi last week revealed that 40 suspects were killed in shootouts with officers since the start of April.

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This has sparked concern from some experts and analysts.

Speaking at an Operation Shanela roadblock in Kempton Park on Thursday, Masemola emphasised that their mandate as the South African Police Service (SAPS) was to bring perpetrators to justice by arresting them.

He said they were often met with "heavy gunfire", leaving them with "no option but to defend themselves and the communities that they serve".

Against this backdrop, he urged those being sought by the police to cooperate and not to resist.

He stressed that they use force that’s proportional to the threat, and said they would continue operating in this way.

Masemola also pointed to some 39 police officers who lost their lives in the line of duty between April last year and March this year, saying "no police officer should die at the hands of criminals".

Police have no option but to 'defend themselves' when met with 'heavy gunfire' - SA top cop Masemola

National Police Commissioner Fannie Masemola's comments come against the backdrop of multiple police shootings in recent times in KwaZulu-Natal (KZN), where provincial commissioner Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi last week revealed that 40 suspects were killed in shootouts with officers since the start of April.