The revelation that 31 police officers were killed in the line of duty between April and June has raised alarm among South African lawmakers and officials.
The Parliament’s portfolio committee on police expressed deep concern over the sharp increase in police officer murders, especially in comparison to the same period last year.
According to Norman Sekhukhune, the head of police crime research and statistics, the number of officers killed during this timeframe nearly doubled from the previous year.
Of the 31 officers killed, 12 were in Gauteng, six in KwaZulu-Natal, five in the Eastern Cape, three in the Free State, two in the Western Cape, two in Mpumalanga, and one in the Northern Cape. Some officers were on duty, while others were off-duty at the time of their killings.
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Nocks expressed deep sadness over the increasing murder of police officers who have dedicated their lives to protecting the citizens of the country.
The committee emphasized the need for effective strategies to prevent such killings and called on the ministry to target areas where these murders are taking place.
“We are saddened by the increase in murder of police officers who have dedicated their lives to ensuring the protection of the people of this country. We have highlighted the need for strategies to prevent the killing of officers,” expressed Nocks Seabi (ANC), the acting chairperson of the Parliament’s portfolio committee on police.
Zandile Majozi, a committee member from the IFP, labeled the situation as alarming, highlighting the audacity of criminals in targeting law enforcement officers.
The release of the crime statistics prompted Police Minister Bheki Cele to emphasize that the high number of police officer killings could not be treated as business as usual.
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The Police and Prisons Civil Rights Union (Popcru) expressed growing concern over the continued killings of officers.
Richard Mamabolo, the union’s spokesperson, noted that the apparent targeting of officers both on and off duty has led to increased insecurity among law enforcement members. He pointed out that officers seem to be singled out as targets due to their possession of firearms.
Reflecting on the broader issue of violence in South Africa, Siya Monakali, spokesperson for Ilitha Labantu, an organization advocating for women’s and children’s rights, stated that the killings of police officers on duty mirror the prevalent violence in the country.
Monakali remarked that the recently released crime statistics serve as evidence that South Africa is facing a high level of violence and urged stronger measures to address the issue.
The surge in police officer killings has prompted calls for urgent action to ensure the safety and security of both law enforcement officers and the general population.