Durban — Between April and August, KwaZulu-Natal police arrested more than 26 873 suspects and recovered 2 506 dangerous weapons in four months.
This was revealed by newly appointed KwaZulu-Natal Department of Transport, Community Safety and Liaison MEC Sipho Hlomuka, who expressed his optimism about fighting and defeating the scourge of crime after holding a high-level engagement with the police top brass in KZN.
On Thursday, Hlomuka attended a meeting with the police led by provincial police commissioner Lieutenant-General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi with his top management, including district commissioners. The meeting was also attended by the senior management of the Department of Community Safety and Liaison.
It was an introductory meeting aimed at addressing and augmenting provincial plans of fighting crime in the province.
Hlomuka was briefed on the police turn-around strategy in addressing high levels of crimes, mainly targeting the top leading stations.
He outlined the provincial priorities and the need for forging a strong partnership between the government, police and the community. Central to MEC Hlomuka’s submission to the police management is a need to reduce levels of murder, illegal firearms and fighting the scourge of gender-based violence, among others.
During the meeting, Hlomuka applauded the police for making breakthroughs in a number of cases, including arresting drug traffickers and most wanted criminals.
Between April 2022 and August 2022, police arrested more than 26 873 and recovered 2 506 dangerous weapons in the province.
“Government and the police management in the province have agreed to work with great speed in addressing the escalating levels of crimes. We want our people to feel safe. As the department, we remain optimistic that we will turn the corner in the implementation of the turn-around strategy which is a direct response to areas with high levels of crimes in the province.
“As government, we pledge our support to the police management and all officers in creating a safer KwaZulu-Natal. Fighting crime is one of our key priorities and we must treat it with a greater sense of importance. We will bring everyone on board, including the communities, traditional leaders, community organisations, business and civil society,” Hlomuka said.
He said that the emphasis must be on the prevention and combating of crime, instead of reacting. The police will also be paying attention in eThekwini, uMgungundlovu and King Cetshwayo, which have the crime-leading stations in the province and the country.
He added that the government will continue to play oversight on the work of the police and the functioning of police stations in the province. Hlomuka also commended the recent successes where police have made breakthroughs in dealing with drugs and recovering illegal firearms in the province.
On Wednesday, the MEC said the recent major firearm recoveries must be sustained to address the proliferation of firearms.
Hlomuka was applauding the police for recovering more than 11 firearms and arresting suspects who posed a threat to the community during various operations in the province.
The department said the arrest of suspects in the King Cetshwayo District and eThekwini Metro was part of the ongoing and targeted operations to reduce high levels of crime.
In King Cetshwayo, six suspects were arrested for possession of illegal firearms and ammunition. In that operation, police seized eight firearms and 65 rounds of live ammunition.
In another operation at Shongweni Dam in KwaNdengezi, west of Durban, police arrested a 39-year-old suspect and recovered three illegal firearms.
Daily News