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Police union Popcru has commended the actions of KwaZulu Natal police following a recent shootout in which five criminal suspects were killed.
The Police and Prisons Civil Rights Union praised the officers “for their outstanding work and bravery in tackling armed criminals while ensuring that no police lives were lost in the line of duty.”
The union was commenting on the latest shootout in the province between police members and a group of suspected hijackers in Umlazi on Friday. One police officer was wounded in the incident.
In a statement on Monday, POPCRU President Thulani Ngwenya emphasised the importance of acknowledging the hazardous and often life-threatening conditions in which officers operate.
“As POPCRU, we would like to extend our congratulations to the police and crime intelligence members involved in identifying and locating these criminals.
“All officers must be commended for confronting the suspects, and for addressing the clear and present threat they posed to our communities – as demonstrated by the many guns found in the suspects’ possession,” he said.
He said the union also acknowledged, but rejected any criticism from those who have blamed the police for the incident or labelled their actions as violent.
“It’s disheartening that these same critics remain silent when our police officers are killed or are quick to blame police for the presence of violent crime in our society,” he said.
Ngwenya pointed to the confrontation as an example of exceptional crime intelligence efforts in assisting police to successfully track and uncover the whereabouts of criminals.
“The community is safer thanks to the efforts of this multidisciplinary task team in rooting out perpetrators and attempting to make the necessary arrests to the best of their ability.
“We are proud of how they are using their crime intelligence skills to maximum effect and believe that other provinces could benefit from adopting similar strategies,” the Popcru president said.
According to the POPCRU statement, 40 suspects were killed in shootouts with KZN police since April, with Ngwenya saying that “perpetrators sometimes leave police no option but to defend themselves and the lives of others.”
The union also repeated its call on the government to declare police killings as treason and make criminals think twice before daring to open fire on members of law enforcement.
POPCRU said the murder of police officers is undermining justice and the rule of law, leaving communities vulnerable to the rule of these types of violent criminals instead.
“It’s time for change,” Ngwenya said.
