KwaZulu-Natal Police Commissioner Lieutenant General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi has condemned, in strongest terms, the burning and stoning of police vehicles at Bottlebrush in Chatsworth.
The incident happened in the early hours of Thursday, 4 April.
KWAZULU-NATAL POLICE VEHICLES BURNT IN CHATSWORTH
South African Police Service (SAPS) spokesperson in KwaZulu-Natal, Colonel Robert Netshiunda, said members of the eThekwini District Task Team were tracing wanted murder suspects when the Public Order Policing officers were called to provide backup in the operation.
Netshiunda said when police officers were tracking and tracing the suspects on foot, a group of counterproductive residents torched a police vehicle to ashes and stoned another.
Following the incident, Lieutenant General Mkhwanazi said that the destruction of police resources is a direct attack on the authority of the state and that no stone will be left unturned in pursuit of those responsible.
Mkhwanazi said community members constantly complain about the lack of police resources, which is a genuine concern. Still, some seek to cripple the police service so that they can continue with 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,” Mkhwanazi said.
SUSPECTS APPREHENDED
The destruction of the state resources did not stop the police from tracing the wanted suspects.
The two suspects police sought were arrested. They were found in possession of two firearms and an air rifle.
“The arrested suspects will appear in court soon,” Netshiunda added.
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