Five wanted crime suspects were fatally wounded in a shootout with police at this location in Cato Crest | SAPS
Durban — Mary de Haas, a violence monitor in KwaZulu-Natal, has expressed concern over the increase in shoot-outs between criminals and police officers.
Speaking to the Daily News, De Haas criticised the police practice of shooting at suspects, arguing that it undermined logical policing strategies. She said this approach complicated efforts to trace the origins of firearms, revealing significant deficiencies in police intelligence operations.
On Tuesday night, five men that police said were linked to multiple serious crimes were shot dead in a shoot-out with police in Cato Crest, Durban.
Police spokesperson Colonel Robert Netshiunda said police tracked the men’s movements to a rented double-storeyed flat on Standard Road.
“The suspects, cornered and desperate, responded by opening fire through the windows. These suspects were sought for their involvement in a string of violent offences, including four murders, 13 business robberies, and a carjacking,” he said.
Police recovered an AK47 assault rifle, three handguns, and drugs.
“This incident underscores the persistent challenges faced by law enforcement in tackling violent crime and the dedication of the police force to bringing dangerous criminals to justice,” Netshiunda said.
Meanwhile, DA spokesperson and MP Ian Cameron said that, amid a surge in gun violence that was plaguing the country, the DA welcomed the long-awaited release of crime statistics in the coming month.
According to the DA, it's been over two months since former police minister Bheki Cele failed to release crime statistics despite the SAPS publicly announcing their availability at noon on May 17, 2024.
Last year SAPS issued the “pre-release crime statistics release calendar” for the 2023/24 financial year which provides the dates on which the crime statistics would be released.
“Despite the DA’s police shadow minister at the time, Andrew Whitfield, submitting a Promotion of Access to Information Act request to address Cele’s refusal to release the data before the elections, the information remained elusive,” Cameron said.
He added: “South Africa has been deeply affected by rampant crime and lawlessness, with families torn apart and communities in turmoil.”
He relayed the story of a teacher in KwaZulu-Natal who was tragically killed in front of her learners, adding that over the weekend mass shootings in KwaZulu-Natal, the North West and the Western Cape resulted in at least 20 deaths – a stark reminder of the escalating trend in mass killings.
“The release of these crime statistics will provide the South African public with a clear picture of the current state of affairs and insights into SAPS’s efforts to combat crime and restore lawfulness,” Cameron said.
WhatsApp your views on this story to 071 485 7995.
Daily News