A total of four police officers have been killed in the KwaZulu-Natal province over the past week.
Police Minister, General Bheki Cele, visited the province following the brutal murder of officers, including two members who were gunned down over the weekend. Sergeant Makhosaze Mdlangathi and Sergeant Mfikelwa Mtolo who were stationed at the Plessislaer and Richmond Police Stations were ambushed and killed by unknown gunmen in Taylors Halt in the Umngungundlovu District.
While on duty, Constable Royal Mfihloyakhe Ndlovu on the 18th of February 2021, responded to a domestic violence complaint in Chatsworth. Upon entering the house of the complainant, 44-year-old Ndlovu was shot in the chest and died on the scene.
On Sunday, Constable Mbuso Nzimela was assaulted and stabbed to death. While no arrests have been made, the motives for these murders are being investigated by the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation.
Minister Cele believes police are under siege in the province.
“We can’t have four of our officers in a mortuary and that is treated as normal, whether they are on or off duty, it is clear they are targeted by criminals who are hell-bent on terrorizing society. It is also very worrying that these attacks occur mostly in Kwa Zulu Natal and the Western Cape provinces and we want to appeal to communities to continue to assist police with any information that can track down these killers and bring them to book.”
Meanwhile, Cele visited the scene of the family massacre in Eshowe. It is alleged that on Saturday, 20 February 2021, a suspect armed with a pistol killed six family members aged between 8 to 70 years old.
Cele has praised the speedy arrest of a suspect in connection with the multiple murders.