Four people have been killed.
Image: Pixabay
Police in KwaZulu-Natal are investigating four counts of murder after alleged criminals and community patrollers were involved in a shootout on Friday.
The incident took place in Bhambayi in Inanda just before midnight.
The provincial police spokesperson, Colonel Robert Netshiunda, said at the time of the incident, a group of community patrollers was patrolling along Nohohwana Skeke Street when they came across three men whom they suspected of committing robberies in the area.
“An altercation reportedly ensued, and there was an exchange of gunfire between the community patrollers and the alleged suspects,” Netshiunda said.
Two people died on the scene.
“Two people, a community patroller and an alleged suspect, died at the scene. Two more community patrollers succumbed to their gunshot wounds in the hospital,” Netshiunda said.
The Provincial Police Commissioner, Lieutenant General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi, reiterated that organised community crime-fighting groups must work with police and avoid confrontation with suspected criminals.
“We encourage active community participation in the fight against crime; it is the only way that we can win the fight against crime. However, community structures like the Community Police Forum (CPF) and other supplementary structures must be the eyes and ears of the police and never take actions that may endanger their lives,” Mkhwanazi said.
He said it has been seen in many cases before that criminals actively shoot at police, meaning they would never think twice before shooting at civilians.
“We are calling upon leaders of all community crime-fighting structures to align themselves with the provisions of the Constitution of the CPF and participate in crime-fighting initiatives in a controlled and legal manner,” Mkhwanazi said.
IOL