The primary responsibilities for the activists include offering emotional and practical support to GBVF victims, improving community awareness of available resources, and strengthening preventative measures against violence.

The GBVF activists will focus on:

• Victim support services: Providing emotional, psychological and practical assistance to survivors of GBVF at police stations and community centres.
• Community engagement: Conducting workshops and campaigns to raise awareness about GBVF and available support systems.
• Data collection and reporting: Assisting in documenting cases to ensure accurate data on GBVF trends and improve accountability.
• Collaboration with police: Strengthening trust between communities and law enforcement by advocating for victim-centred approaches in handling cases.

Speaking at the handing over of appointment letters during a ceremony at the Westville Correctional Centre on Monday 9 December, Ntuli highlighted the urgency to intensify the fight against GBVF and the critical role the activists will play.

“The scourge of gender-based violence continues to ravage our communities, and we can no longer stand by as silent observers. These 173 activists will be the lifeline for victims, a voice for the vulnerable, and a driving force for change in our province,” the Premier said.

Ntuli added that the appointments form part of the province’s broader GBVF strategy, which includes improving coordination among government departments, non-governmental organisations and communities.

“This initiative also ties into the National Strategic Plan on GBVF, which prioritises survivour support, prevention, and justice for victims,” Ntuli said.

The Premier emphasised the economic and social benefits of the initiative.

“By placing these activists at the forefront, we are not only protecting our citizens but also empowering individuals to take ownership of their communities and foster safer spaces for women and children,” the Premier said.

Ntuli also reiterated a call on citizens to take action and join hands in the fight against GBVF.

“Ending gender-based violence is not a responsibility of the government alone. It requires all of us—men, women, and children to take a stand, to speak out, and to work tirelessly to build a province where everyone feels safe and respected.”

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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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This was revealed by Nomagugu Simelane-Zulu: MEC for KZN Health in a parliamentary reply to questions posed by the Democratic Alliance (DA).

The finding comes after it was revealed in September that there were 3 186 unclaimed bodies across the country, with KZN accounting for 1 527 bodies.

In her reply, the MEC states that KZN’s Department of Health (DoH) has concluded its requirements in respect of the bodies – including post-mortems, sample collections and other identifying criteria – but that the hold-up lies with the SAPS.

According to the MEC, the SAPS’ failure to issue pauper statements is behind the backlog in burials. The situation is allegedly exacerbated by having to wait for SAPS to finalise other processes, including tracing next of kin and the provision of DNA kits, all of which must take place before the investigating officer will provide a pauper statement.

Simelane further claims that the backlog figures are exacerbated by inadequate municipal budgets to conduct pauper burials and a lack of suitable space within some municipalities.

She also indicates that a few municipalities do not have contracted funeral undertakers to perform pauper burials which results in human remains not being buried. Regardless of these challenges, municipalities have a duty to allocate budgets to pauper burials.

“The reality is that KZN is turning to an above-ground graveyard,” said Dr Imran Keeka, MPL – DA KZN Spokesperson on Health.

The DA said it has escalated this matter to the National Police Committee, drawing attention to the need for personnel, funding and due process to allow for completion of all SAPS-related responsibilities. The DA has also written to the committee chairperson to seek intervention at that level.

“For too long grieving families have been denied closure and the deceased deprived of the dignity and respect they deserve. The DA calls on SAPS to finalize processes as a matter of extreme urgency so that municipalities can proceed to bury the deceased. The affected families must find closure while there must be dignity for the deceased.

“The DA will leverage its position as part of the Government of Provincial Unity and National Unity to ensure that SAPS are held accountable, and that this injustice is corrected,” Keeka concluded.

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Police Minister Senzo Mchunu gave the police killings numbers in response to a DA National Council of Provinces (NCOP) parliamentary question. The reply further reveals that one police officer was arrested during the same period for alleged involvement in the killing/s.

KZN consistently features as the province with the highest number of killings as a result of police action. Between 2022/23, the Independent Police Investigative Directorate (IPID) reported that 108 suspects were killed by the SAPS in KZN. This while South Africa as a whole recorded 364 deaths.

“While it is common knowledge that suspected criminals in our province do not spare the police, the high number killed remains a cause for concern,” stated Mzamo Billy MP – DA Member on the Select Committee on Security and Justice.

“Deadly force by SAPS should not be regarded as an acceptable way of confronting KZN’s escalating crime levels. Instead, stakeholders should tread carefully as it may impact public trust in law enforcement and the criminal justice system.”

“Our province needs an enhanced whole of government and society crime prevention strategy approach – that is properly funded and brings various stakeholders together. The use of evidence-based policing and technology, the allocation of police resources based on crime prevalence within communities and an urgent exploration of the use of body cameras to monitor police-public interactions are also required, Billy stated.

“Cameras don’t lie. Their purpose is two-fold – to ensure that there is no police brutality or police over exertion of authority and to review footage and establish where more SAPS training and resources are needed. Yet, despite former Police Minister Bheki Cele stating in May 2019 that body-worn cameras were being prioritised, to date not a single one has been procured or deployed by the SAPS since then.”

The killing of criminal suspects is not a solution to escalating crime levels, the DA said. “This must be strongly discouraged while supporting responsible policing efforts. Value for human life and upholding the law are paramount. We should only celebrate the lawful arrest and prosecution of suspects, not their killing. This can only begin with a devolved, fully capacitated SAPS,” the DA concluded.

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Asking for further information on suspects killed by police, Democratic Alliance (DA) public representative for the province Mzamo Billy told Mchunu “at least 31” died in the three month, three week period between 1 May and 16 August this year.

The ministerial answer for the 30 July 2023-30 July 2024 period was 107 with one policeman arrested in connection with “the killings”.

In the first six months of this year, the Independent Police Investigative Directorate (Ipid) registered 83 suspects killed by the police in KZN.

Since 2012, between 353 and 436 people have been killed by police every year across the country, and KZN accounts for between 22% and 40% of these. Last year, 142 people were killed by police in KZN. Back in 2020 they killed 104.

South African Police Service (SAPS) National Commissioner General Fannie Masemola recently noted concerns over the “number of suspects that have been shot and killed by police in KwaZulu-Natal in recent months,” and warned criminals to surrender when called on to do so by police.

The National Commissioner warned criminals that police will continue to use force that is proportional to the threat when they are defending themselves and the communities they serve.

Seeking to provide clarity, General Masemola noted “our mandate as the SAPS is to bring perpetrators to justice by arresting them, but quite often in pursuit of arresting these often dangerous and heavily armed criminals, our police officers are more than often met with heavy gunfire and that leaves our officers with no option but to defend themselves and the communities that they serve.”

The Commissioner urged criminals to surrender when called to do so, saying “when criminals fire with live ammunition, we have no choice but to defend ourselves and the communities that we serve.” However, he stated police will continue to maintain “force that is proportional to the threat.”

Policing expert Johan Burger told TimesLive that police are constitutionally obliged to do what is necessary to combat crime, including identifying and arresting criminals. “Police have no choice because on the one hand, they also have to protect themselves and other innocent people who may be in the vicinity, and second, the police have the constitutional obligation to arrest those criminals.”

However, he said the number of incidents raises questions and noted that the Independent Police Investigative Directorate (IPID) is obliged to investigate all incidents where suspects are killed to see if police acted appropriately.

“KZN does stand out for the higher level of police shooting of suspects we have seen in recent years,” Criminologist Dr Guy Lamb told TimesLive. This is compounded by a huge number of illegal firearms in circulation which makes policing very dangerous. “KZN does stand out in comparison with other provinces,” he said, indicating police in KZN are more prone to fire at criminals.

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Madhumathie Bunwarie, 62, was killed on Sunday 29 September when a car battery was thrown from a bridge and struck the car she was travelling in on the N3, near the Pavilion Shopping Centre. The car battery reportedly crashed through the windscreen, hitting Bunwarie on the head.

At the time of the incident, Bunwarie and her family were returning to Pietermaritzburg after attending a funeral in Durban.

“This appalling act of mischief and criminal recklessness has not only robbed a family of a beloved mother, but it has shaken the entire KwaZulu-Natal community. We cannot, and will not, tolerate such inhumane and cowardly behaviour that brings untold pain and trauma to innocent people,” Ntuli said.

Ntuli extended his condolences to the Bunwarie family and their loved ones. “No words can ease the grief they are feeling but as a province, we mourn with them and promise to act,” Ntuli said.

The Premier has called on law enforcement agencies to intensify efforts to apprehend the individuals responsible for the heinous act.

He stressed the need for justice, not only for Bunwarie but for all victims of violence and reckless criminality in the province.

“I have instructed the Department of Community Safety and Liaison to work closely with the South African Police Service (SAPS) to increase police visibility and patrols in high-risk areas, particularly near bridges along major highways. We must ensure that incidents like this are prevented at all costs.

“The safety of our people is non-negotiable. Additional security measures, including the installation of surveillance cameras and heightened monitoring of bridges, will be explored urgently to deter such cowardly acts of violence,” Ntuli said.

Ntuli further urged members of the public to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activities to law enforcement without delay.

Riona Gokool, Democratic Alliance (DA) KwaZulu-Natal Spokesperson on Transport welcomed Ntuli’s commitment to exploring additional security measures – including the installation of surveillance cameras and heightened monitoring of bridges.

“The DA is extremely concerned that such horrific acts of violence are still continuing years later, with no real intervention from authorities. First, we saw the throwing of rocks at vehicles on major routes and now car batteries are being used to cause death and destruction. This lawlessness is a clear indication that criminals have no fear of police services or the consequences of breaking the law. Their despicable actions are also a shocking indication of the lack of respect for other lives,” the party said.

The DA called on the Premier to make good on the promises made during his budget speech earlier this year, including tackling crime more robustly.

“We further call on him to increase the visibility of Metro Police, the South African Police Service (SAPS) and KZN’s Road Traffic Inspectorate (RTI) at all hot-spots in our province. He must also ensure that authorities strictly enforce the law and make swift arrests that lead to the successful prosecution of perpetrators. The people of our province must be able to move freely without fear while innocent lives cannot continue to be lost due to heinous crimes,” Gokool concluded.

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KwaZulu-Natal has continued the battle against violent crimes, particularly those where firearms are used, the SA Police Service (SAPS) said in a statement. The recovered firearms include 260 pistols, 19 rifles and 18 homemade firearms. Almost 5 000 rounds of ammunition of various calibre of firearms were also recovered.

The high prevalence of firearms in criminal hands in KZN can be seen from ongoing shootouts between police and criminals, with more than 30 suspected criminals killed by police in the last month.

During July operations, KZN police apprehended 3 509 suspects for contact crimes, including 191 suspects for murder, 200 suspects wanted for attempted murder, 55 suspected of house robbery, 45 business robbery suspects and 204 rape suspects.

Cases of assault with intent to inflict grievous bodily harm, which often occurs after the consumption of alcohol, continues to be a cause for concern with 1 740 suspects arrested for the crime in the month of July. In efforts to reduce the numbers of assaults where alcohol is the main factor, police arrested 548 people for the illegal sale of liquor.

A further 281 suspects were arrested for burglary at residential premises, with 47 suspects apprehended in connection with cases of stock theft. Police visibility on the roads along with targeted roadblocks and stop and search operations resulted in the arrest of 404 suspects for driving under the influence of alcohol. An additional 1 618 suspects were apprehended for drug-related offences, the SAPS reported.

Police also apprehended 188 suspects for acts of domestic violence, and 41 suspects were arrested for kidnapping. Police seized various dangerous weapons, notably 499 knives, part of a total of 567 dangerous weapons recovered during operations.

Provincial Commissioner of KwaZulu-Natal Lieutenant General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi called for police officers to focus on their responsibilities, “towards creating a safe and secure environment for all residents and visitors in KwaZulu-Natal.” The Provincial Commissioner noted policing “will always spark debates” but stated officers should not “loosen the grip on the fight against crime.”

“Do not be discouraged by self-proclaimed experts or analysts who find relevance only when they speak bad about the police. Such people have never experienced the dangers on the streets that you patrol on a 24-hour basis. I urge you to ignore the noise and execute your constitutional mandate with professionalism. Criminals who challenge the authority of the state by shooting at police officers should be made to feel the wrath of the law, all within the confines of the Constitution,” said Lieutenant General Mkhwanazi in response to concerns and criticism over the growing number of criminals killed by police in the province.

Anti-crime operations, meanwhile, continue elsewhere across South Africa, with the SAPS on Monday 5 August saying that Operation Shanela activities netted 13 996 suspects nationally last week as police take a “bold and decisive approach” in protecting the communities that they serve.

A total of 158 firearms were confiscated along with 1 448 rounds of ammunition and 74 hijacked and stolen vehicles were recovered during the week’s operations.

“Two kidnappers were arrested and 90 undocumented Ethiopian nationals were rescued from a suspected human trafficking ring in Johannesburg,” the SAPS said.

“The Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation, the Hawks, in the Eastern Cape shot and killed five cash-in-transit [heist] suspects, while three suspects were arrested during a tracing operation.

“R300 million worth of drugs suspected to be crystal meth were seized in Fourways, Johannesburg. In the same operation, a kidnapped businessman was rescued and eight kidnappers were arrested.

“Counterfeit goods worth R7 million were seized in Fordsburg and Dragon City in Johannesburg.”

The SAPS said police would continue with their operations and stamp the authority of the State to ensure the safety and security of all people living in South Africa.

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Addressing the media in Durban, Hlomuka said all 4974 voting stations in the province will be closely monitored.

“The fact that three major political parties had their manifesto launches here in KwaZulu-Natal tells you that the province will be the hive of political activities. We have also observed some sporadic incidents of violent public protests and we caution our people not to deprive others of their constitutional rights to vote by barricading roads and destroying properties.”

“Areas such as the R74 in Muden, where a truck was torched last week Friday, will be given more attention.”

“Areas such as KwaNongoma, which are known for political intolerance, will receive maximum attention. This is one area that has of late been experiencing the killing of councillors and it is one of the declared hotspot areas. Our conclusion is that KwaNongoma and other parts of Zululand still want to categorise themselves as no-go zones and we must resist any attempts that will take us back,” he said.

Hlomuka said the plan included:

• Additional deployments in hotspot areas
• Deployment of police in all voting districts
• Deployment of more than 17000 police and other security personnel.
• Deployment of 1008 social crime prevention volunteers from the department of community safety and liaison.
• Ensure effective monitoring of all voting stations.
• Placing roving teams on high alert to respond to emergency cases.
• Setting up special courts to deal with cases speedily.
• Activate political parties through the Multi-Party-Political Intervention Committee to respond to threats and possible incidents of instability.

“Judging by the information at our disposal and the comprehensive plan that has been developed by this multi-disciplinary team of various agencies, we can safely say as the province we are ready to deliver peaceful, free, and fair elections,” said Hlomuka.

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Four men, suspected of being behind a string of cash-in-transit robberies in the province, were shot dead in Camperdown while two others, wanted for intimidation, extortion and other violent crimes, were killed in Mariannhill.

SUSPECTS WHO CHALLENGE THE AUTHORITY OF THE STATE BY SHOOTING AT POLICE OFFICERS WILL BE MET WITH THE FORCE PROPORTIONAL TO THEIR ACTIONS.

Brigadier Jay Naicker

KwaZulu-Natal police spokesman Brigadier Jay Naicker said in the first incident, investigations led officers from various units including the Hawks to a property in Camperdown.

“When police announced their arrival at the identified house, they were greeted with a hail of bullets from the suspects. The police officers returned fire and during the shootout, four suspects sustained fatal gunshot wounds. Three firearms were found in the possession of the suspects.”

In the second incident, National Intervention Unit members cornered two people in their hideout in Mariannhill.

“When police pounced on the suspects at their hideout at the Klaarwater Hostel in Mariannhill, the suspects opened fire at the police officers who were stamping the authority of the state. Two suspects were shot and fatally wounded in the shootout. Two firearms were found in the possession of the suspects,” said Naicker. 

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KwaZulu-Natal police spokesman Colonel Robert Netshiunda said a voice note, claiming that 31 prisoners escaped from a hijacked truck during their trip from court to the Pietermaritzburg Prison, was “old.”

“Police would like to place it on record that such is an old voice note relating events, which happened in 2021. The recirculation of that old voice note is aimed at causing panic among residents and derail police’s operational plans at this critical time in the country’s calendar.”

“Residents are cautioned against sharing that voice note as it creates a false narrative.”

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