KwaZulu-Natal provincial police commissioner Lieutenant General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi met with 3000 commissioned officers on Tuesday to gauge performances and “account on all the shortfalls that need drastic and urgent improvements.”

Mkhwanazi said the meeting in Durban was historic in the history of policing in the province as it was the first time that all 3000 commissioned officers, ranked captain and upwards, were in one room.

“The aim of this meeting was to gauge our performances and account on all the shortfalls that need drastic and urgent improvements.  That is why I called all commanders who are in charge of various components, units, sections and sub-sections at various levels of command. I took the opportunity to remind the commanders of their mandate and responsibilities.”

“Police officers need to keep it in their minds that they are the hope of communities and any negligence of their responsibilities must come at a cost. In the province of KwaZulu-Natal we want police officers who do their work willingly, just the way they applied for this calling. Every police officer must be accountable for all their actions and that starts with commanders whom we have gathered here today,” he explained.

We also appreciate private security, especially those who are part of the Eyes and Ears project. They are the first responders to most crime scene and their cooperation is valued and appreciated.

Lieutenant General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi

Mkhwanazi said KwaZulu-Natal police arrested 121614 suspected criminals for various crimes in the previous financial year.

Over 37500 of them were nabbed for contact crimes.

“Our detectives were hard at work and of the total number of those arrested for contact crimes, 2407 of them were arrested for murder, 4874 were nabbed for rape, whereas 3069 suspects were arrested for attempted murder.”

“On cases of robbery with aggravating circumstances, 2395 suspects were arrested. These suspects are at different stages of court appearances,” he said.

Mkhwanazi said the province had been in the spotlight for gruesome violent crimes, especially murders that attracted international attention and made headlines worldwide.

“During the execution of operations, a total of 3575 firearms and thousands of ammunition of various calibre of firearms were recovered. Detectives in KwaZulu-Natal also managed to crack high-profile cases and ensure that suspects face justice.”

“I will not talk about the murders of rapper ‘AKA’ and his friend ‘Tibs’. That one is documented and we shall leave it to the law to run its cause.  In June last year, six people were shot and killed in Umbumbulu. Sphamandla Mkhize was arrested for that crime and is facing the cause of justice.”

“In Vryheid, Sanele Magubabe, Buyani Ngobese and Ziphumelele Ngobese were arrested for the attempted murder of three people and conspiracy to commit murder.  Mthembu Mzokhona Sinethemba, who is now deceased, was arrested for the KwaMakhutha triple murder in April last year.”

“Apart from the suspects who were fatally wounded in a shootout with police following the murder of 10 family members in Plessislaer in April last year, detectives traced and arrested Thabo Deon Warren Conco for those multiple murders. Thabo, who also goes by the name of Deon Sjava Mathonsi Chonco, was also positively linked with the murders of five people at Bulwer in May 2023.”

He said four people were also arrested for the murders of 13 people who were found burnt at a house in Taylors Halt in June last year.

“Bongile Mabele, who is also known as Bala, was arrested for the murders of eight people and the attempted murder of four more people in Umlazi in July 2023. Still in Umlazi, Siphamandla Dhlomo was arrested for the murder of seven people which happened in August last year.”

“Umlazi was a hype of activities crime wise and another four people were arrested in connection with the murders of eight people and the attempted murder of another four people, also in August 2023.”

“In November last year, another mass murder happened in Plessislaer where 10 people were shot and killed. Our detectives traced and arrested Thembelani Mbatha for that gruesome crime,” said Mkhwanazi.

KwaZulu-Natal police also arrested suspected involved in a Rustenburg cash-in-transit robbery.

“This year our detectives have already arrested suspects who are linked to the killing of five people in Plessislaer, as well as suspects who are believed to have been behind three murders in Pietermaritzburg.”

“We have also arrested suspects for three murders and attempted murders which happened in Folweni and a foreign national of Asian origin who was arrested for the murder and four attempted murders of his fellow countrymen last week.”

“These just the highlights of the great successes that our police officers continue to attain as we forge ahead with our resolve to create a safe and secure environment for the residents of KwaZulu-Natal and all local and international tourists,” said Mkhwanazi.

He said vehicle theft syndicates were also dealt a blow with the recovery of 2660 stolen and hijacked vehicles.

“We appreciate the good work done by the team which was deployed at Emanguzi, an area which was used as gateway to smuggle vehicles from our country into the neighbouring Mozambique.”   

Between October 2023 and May this year, over R1.5 billion worth of cocaine was recovered in KwaZulu-Natal.

“Over 300000 litres of liquor were seized, mostly due to illegal dealing in liquor at shebeens and backroom activities. These successes would not have been achieved without strong relationship between us as police and community members. We plead with community structures and individuals to take a firm stance against criminals and continue to forge a strong partnership with police,” said Mkhwanazi.