Police Ministry takes exception with KZN officers being 'trigger happy'
Police Minister Senzo Mchunu says the high number of illegal guns in circulation is a major issue in the country.
South African Police Service (SAPS) officers in formation. Picture: X/SAPoliceService
JOHANNESBURG - The Police Ministry has taken exception with law enforcement officers in KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) being labelled as “trigger happy”.
Over the past two weeks, police in KZN have killed 18 people suspected of several crimes.
In all of the instances police have released media statements saying they were fired upon first.
Police Minister Senzo Mchunu said the high number of illegal guns in circulation was a major issue in the country.
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Mchunu was speaking at the final day of the African National Congress’s (ANC) Lekgotla at the Birchwood hotel in Kempton Park.
The Police Minister, who is also part of the ANC’s subcommittee for peace and stability, said the actions of KZN police were justified.
“Police are human beings, they are not stones. They are fathers and mothers of their children. They are husbands, they're wives, relatives of people, they are human beings so they can’t just give themselves up to criminals, they cannot do that.”
Over the past year, at least 39 police officers have been killed in the line of duty.