Nhlanhla Mabaso18 December 2024 | 5:22

KZN police say criminals waging 'war' against officers after 3 cops killed

Two were shot dead in Cliffdale, and the other was killed in Empangeni over the weekend.

KZN police say criminals waging 'war' against officers after 3 cops killed

South African Police Service (SAPS) officers in formation. Picture: X/SAPoliceService

DURBAN - KwaZulu-Natal police said criminals were waging a war against officers after three cops were recently killed in the province.

Two were shot dead in Cliffdale, and the other was killed in Empangeni over the weekend.

Provincial Police Commissioner Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi said that 12 officers had been killed in 2024 in KwaZulu-Natal.

"It’s a war. There is a group of people in this province that are bloodthirsty. They don’t care if they kill to get their way. Whether they rob or rape you - whatever they do, they don’t bother because they will if they can."

He said officers would respond to any provocations.

"What we are doing as the police is to try and equip our members with survival skills and provide them with equipment that can protect them as they go out there to enforce the law so that when they face those hardened criminals, they are able to fight because it’s a war that we are faced with."