KZN police killed 107 people in self-defence over the past year - Mchunu
These people were suspected by police of committing a wide range of crimes, including firing at the police prior to being arrested.
FILE: The scene where a suspect was shot and killed by police in Inanda in October 2023. It is alleged that the suspect was involved in a shooting incident where police officer Sthembiso Mazibuko was killed a few weeks ago. Picture: Xanderleigh Dookey Makhaza/Eyewitness News
JOHANNESBURG - KwaZulu-Natal police have killed 107 people in self-defence over the past year.
These people were suspected by police of committing a wide range of crimes, including firing at the police prior to being arrested.
In a written parliamentary response to the Democratic Alliance (DA), Police Minister Senzo Mchunu said that between July last year and July this year, only one police officer has been arrested for the 107 killings.
DA National Council of Provinces (NCOP) member, Billy Mzamo, said that the high number of suspects being killed by police was a concern.
"This seems to be quite consistent in the province of KZN and it is a big concern for us and it should be a concern for all of us because we would want to see more suspects being arrested and prosecuted in this province."
Mzamo said it was now time for police to make good on a long-standing promise to fit their officers with body cameras.
"Because we do know that cameras don't lie and their purpose is two-fold - to ensure there is no police brutality or police over-exertion of authority and to review footage and establish where more SAPS training and resources are needed."