A total of 105 suspects were killed in 38 shootouts with police in KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) between April and December 2024, South African Police Service (SAPS) Commissioner Lieutenant General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi announced on Monday.
Speaking at a media briefing in Durban, Mkhwanazi said the suspects were linked to serious crimes, including murder, extortion, armed robbery, and cash-in-transit heists.
During the same period, 4,278 people were killed in the province—an 11% decrease compared to the previous year’s 4,836 murders. Mkhwanazi noted that while violent crime remains high, the number of suspects killed in police confrontations is far lower than civilian deaths.
“Criminals are at war with the citizens,” he said. “In nine months, 4,278 people were killed, while only 105 criminals died in shootouts.”
Police Officer Deaths Raise Concerns
Mkhwanazi also revealed that four police officers were murdered while on duty, emphasizing the dangers faced by law enforcement.
“Losing even one officer deprives thousands of people of police services,” he said. “These officers were attacked while trying to apprehend suspects. If ten officers respond to a scene and one is killed, it’s one too many.”
Crime Statistics and Arrests
Police arrested 144,392 suspects during the nine-month period, including 11,628 undocumented foreign nationals. While murders decreased by 558 compared to 2023, contact crimes—such as assault and robbery—rose by 3.7%, from 84,998 cases in 2023 to 88,104 in 2024.
Plans to Combat Crime
Mkhwanazi said SAPS is strengthening partnerships with community policing forums and investing in technology to improve crime detection and prevention.
“We aim to reduce crime to 2020 levels, but it’s a difficult task,” he admitted. He singled out cash-in-transit heists as a major challenge, vowing to work with businesses and stakeholders to find solutions.
