By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
Kwazulu-Natal premier Thami Ntuli applauded the bravery and commitment of law enforcement officers in the fight against crime in the province – since April, over 35 wanted suspects had been fatally shot following gun battles with police.
Ntuli was addressing the provincial crime summit on Friday.
The summit was attended by various stakeholders, including SAPS – led by the provincial commissioner, Lieutenant-General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi.
Ntuli opened the summit by acknowledging the severe impact of crime on the province. He highlighted that crime not only tarnishes the image of KwaZulu-Natal but also sows mistrust, insecurity, and disinvestment, which hinder growth and reconstruction efforts.
The Premier emphasised the importance of reclaiming the streets, neighbourhoods, and lives of the people from the clutches of crime.
He noted the dire effects crime has had on women and children, especially as the province enters Women’s Month. He paid tribute to the resilience of women across KwaZulu-Natal, who continue to bear the hardest brunt of this scourge.
Ntuli recounted recent tragic incidents that underscored the urgency of the summit. On 29 July, a female teacher was shot and killed at Phikiswayo Primary School. Just two days later, a robbery at Mukelani Primary School in KwaMashu saw teachers being robbed of their personal belongings and forced to transfer money under duress.
A police officer is in a stable condition after he was shot during a shootout where three suspected hijackers were shot dead at T Section in Umlazi, Durban, on Friday.
“We support the aggressive approach by police as criminals shows to be aggressive in our communities,” said Ntuli.
More than 35 suspected criminals have been killed within two weeks in shootouts with police in separate incidents in the province.
The summit also introduced the Integrated and Collaborative Safety Strategy, aimed at uniting government, business, and community efforts in tackling crime. Ntuli stressed that the responsibility of fighting and preventing crime should not fall solely on the police. He urged other role-players, including communities, to augment police efforts.
“This landmark summit is the first step in our Integrated and Collaborative Safety Strategy,” Ntuli explained. “We want this strategy to be underpinned by principles of collaboration and integration.”