Cape Town – Police Minister Bheki Cele has defended the actions of the South African Police Service (SAPS) following a shootout in KwaZulu-Natal where nine suspected criminals were killed.
The incident occurred after police officers were ambushed by 11 gunmen, allegedly planning an assassination, The Citizen reported.
Cele said that officers need to defend themselves in life-threatening situations and highlighted the risks they face.
“There is one way of responding when the police are taken on,” the minister said.
He added: “It cannot be true that these people are shot unprovoked, but the investigations do tell us [that] yes we would love to arrest those people.
“What I would not love to see is that after these operations we bury the police. I would rather be put in the dock and answer for these activities rather than burying [a] member of the South African police as I have buried [officers] dying for this thing.”
[ICYMI] Minister of Police, General Bheki Cele does not mince his words as he throws his support behind the country’s @SAPoliceService officers who decisively deal with criminals facing hard core criminals. Cele says police should NOT die with guns in their hands. pic.twitter.com/6irajH9aQq
— Lirandzu Themba (@LirandzuThemba) April 4, 2024
The shootout took place as part of efforts to address violent crimes in the area, including a gang rape case.
Cele stressed the importance of police safety, citing previous officer fatalities, and asserted the need for a robust response when dealing with dangerous criminals.
Follow African Insider on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram
Picture: X/@TheLegalSA
For more African news, visit Africaninsider.com
Compiled by Betha Madhomu
