Police are investigatimg four cases of murder following a deadly shootout between members of a community police forum and suspected criminals in Bhambayi, Inanda, north of Durban, on Friday.
Image: FILE
Police in KwaZulu-Natal have launched an investigation into four counts of murder following a deadly shooting involving community patrollers and suspected criminals in Bhambayi, Inanda, north of Duban, just before midnight on Friday.
According to preliminary reports, a group of community patrollers was conducting routine patrols along Nohohwana Skeke Street when they encountered three men believed to be linked to a spate of robberies in the area. The situation quickly escalated into a confrontation, which reportedly led to an exchange of gunfire between the patrollers and the suspected criminals.
The violent clash claimed four lives. A community patroller and one of the alleged suspects were declared dead at the scene. Two additional patrollers, who sustained gunshot wounds during the incident, later died in hospital.
KwaZulu-Natal Police Commissioner, Lieutenant-General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi, has since urged community crime-fighting groups to exercise caution and operate within the law. He stressed the importance of collaboration between residents and law enforcement, warning against direct confrontations with suspects.
Lt-Gen Mkhwanazi reiterated that while community involvement remains crucial in combating crime, structures such as Community Police Forums (CPFs) must act strictly as support systems to the police rather than engaging in potentially dangerous operations.
“We have seen criminals shooting at police officers, meaning they will not hesitate to shoot at civilians,” he said, calling on leaders of community patrol groups to align their activities with legal frameworks and prioritise safety.
The incident on the eve of Workers' Day holiday has once again highlighted the risks faced by community patrollers in crime-affected areas, as well as the growing tension between vigilantism and formal policing structures. Inanda has been plagued by many incidents of gun violence and criminal gangs who terrorise the community through robberies and extortion.