Acting on intelligence, police spotted the suspects’ vehicle traveling along the John Ross Highway towards Richards Bay. When police signaled the driver to stop, the vehicle sped off, leading to a high-speed chase. The suspects opened fire on the officers, prompting officers to return fire. During the exchange, all eight suspects were fatally wounded, the South African Police Service (SAPS) said in a statement.

The suspects were additionally linked to a recent cash-in-transit robbery in the Mzingazi area, and were found with three firearms, two replica firearms, and housebreaking tools. Investigations are ongoing to determine if the firearms are connected to other crimes.

This incident brings the total number of suspects shot and killed during shootouts with police this week to 10. On Wednesday 4 December, one suspect was fatally shot in Umlazi during a police operation targeting suspects wanted for a series of murders and cash-in-transit robberies. Police received a tip-off about the suspects’ location and, upon arrival at a residence in F Section, two suspects opened fire. In the ensuing shootout, one suspect was killed, and the other fled, narrowly evading capture.

On Thursday, another suspect was fatally wounded in an altercation with police in KwaMashu, while two others were arrested. Police had been searching for suspects involved in a vehicle hijacking in Phoenix. When they spotted the stolen vehicle in KwaMashu, one suspect fired at officers before fleeing on foot. After a brief chase, the suspect was found dead from gunshot wounds, and the two others were arrested. They are expected to appear in court soon.

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As law, the bill entrenches the “institutional and operational independence of IPID and makes it clear that the directorate must be independent, impartial and must exercise its powers and functions without fear, favour or prejudice.”

The law further amends provisions regarding certain appointments, along with what the IPID can investigate. The Executive Director responsibilities have been broadened, regarding referral of disciplinary matters, and make provisions for pre-employment security screenings.

IPID is now further empowered to investigate any rape offences and any deaths by police action, in instances where the SAPS or Municipal officers were on or off duty.

The President noted “the newly enacted Independent Police Investigative Directorate Amendment Act is an outcome of a comprehensive review of the principal IPID Act of 2011 initiated by the Civilian Secretariat for Police Service,” adding further that “the Civilian Secretariat provides the Minister of Police with policy advice and research support; develops departmental policy; provides civilian oversight of the South African Police Service and mobilises stakeholders outside the department around crime prevention and policing matters.”

Many hope these new amendments will allow for IPID to be more effective in investigating police abuses. Kwa-Zulu Natal has for the previous decade had one of the highest rates of deaths by police action. In the 2020/21 period, KZN saw 104 deaths as a result of police action, the highest for the year, 29.46% of the year’s total of 353. The 2021/22 period saw an increase to 106, although this was a percentage decrease to 25.85%, as Gauteng rose from 89 to 107.

However, deaths by police action accounted for only 65% of the deaths investigated by IPID, with 35% being deaths while in police custody. Here, KZN again leads, with a total combined count of 114 in 2020/21 and 129 in 2021/22, the highest in both years.

Furthermore, in the 2021/22 annual report, IPID notes that 51% of rapes committed by police officers occurred on duty, and 49% occurred off duty. While KZN does not lead the count in 2020/21, when 10 occurred, placing the province 3rd, the following year saw an increase of 100% to a total of 20, making KZN the province with the highest reported rapes by police in 2021/22.

In 2021/22, 85 cases were allocated to IPID in KZN, within 72 hours of receipt. 21 cases were allocated after 72 hours. This brought the total number of cases allocated to the branch to 3 685. However, only 10% of cases, 360, were ready for decision. 435 cases of deaths by police action were active, with only 85 deemed decision ready. For deaths in police custody, 52 remained active, with 24 deemed decision ready.

The main concern is IPID’s ability to investigate these offences and pass on the cases to the National Prosecuting Authority. The report indicates 112 cases were referred to the NPA by the KZN IPID branch, 38 for deaths by police action, and 3 for deaths in police custody. The Free State and the Northern Cape referred 420 and 249 cases respectively.

Of the 112 KZN cases referred, 87 were awaiting response, and 25 were rejected for prosecution. No cases were prosecuted. Only five cases saw disciplinary action taken, with one withdrawn and four deemed guilty.

Given the recent reporting on the killing of suspects by KZN SAPS, many question abound whether these actions are legitimate cases of officers acting in self-defence, or evidence of officers killing with impunity.

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Police officers responded to reports of an ATM bombing at a store in Esikhaleni, and swift investigations led to the arrest of a suspected getaway driver involved in the incident. A secondary vehicle used by the suspect was spotted in the Madlankala area. After being confronted by members of the SAPS, the suspects failed to obey lawful instructions from the officers. This culminated in the suspects opening fire on the police, with the ensuing shootout resulting in one suspect sustaining fatal gunshot wounds. A firearm was found in his possession and recovered by police.

A search commenced at the nearby sugarcane farm where the remaining suspects fled to escape arrest.

On the morning of Friday 26 July 2024, the KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Stabilization Team, part of Operation Vala uMgodi, acted on intelligence regarding potential suspects hiding at a house in KwaDlangezwa. As officers arrived on the scene and announced their presence, the suspects opened fire, initiating a shootout which resulted in three suspects being fatally wounded.

The suspects are believed to have been involved in the ATM bombing incident in Esikhaleni. In their possession police recovered at least two firearms. Additionally, the three suspects are believed to have been wanted for other crimes, including “at least ten cases of murder.”

The crime scene is still active with further investigations underway, the SAPS said in a statement. KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Commissioner Lieutenant General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi commented on the matter, stating “criminals who shoot at the police should expect the same kind of response.”

“Police officers have a mandate to arrest and bring perpetrators to justice, however if police find themselves under gunfire, the only option they have in order to come out alive is through the return of fire”, said Mkhwanazi.

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