Cape Town – Residents of an informal settlement in Chatsworth, Durban, allegedly attacked police officers with violence, torching one police van and stoning another vehicle on Thursday.
The incident occurred while police were tracking wanted murder suspects in the settlement.
KwaZulu-Natal police commissioner Lieutenant-General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi condemned the attack, saying that while concerns about police resources are valid, some residents aim to undermine law enforcement efforts.
“When police officers were tracking and tracing the suspects on foot a group of residents torched a police vehicle and stoned another.
#sapsKZN Two police vehicles were damaged when one was torched and another stoned at Bottlerush in Chatsworth on 04/01 while members were tracing wanted murder suspects. Destruction of police resources is a direct attack to the authority of the state and that no stone will be… pic.twitter.com/GsfcsvjT8u
— SA Police Service 🇿🇦 (@SAPoliceService) April 4, 2024
“Community members complain about the lack of police resources, which is a genuine concern, but there are those who seek to cripple the police service so they can continue their reign of terror.
“Burning and stoning police vehicles is a serious crime and the team is already on the ground to find those behind this heinous act”, said Mkhwanazi.
Despite the damage to the vehicles, police successfully arrested two wanted suspects and seized firearms. The suspects are expected to face court proceedings soon.
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Compiled by Betha Madhomu
