By Johnathan Paoli
KwaZulu-Natal premier Thamsanqa Ntuli has commended the unwavering dedication and bravery of the South African Police Service (SAPS) during an excellence awards ceremony.
The event recognised the extraordinary contributions of police officers in maintaining law and order across the province.
In a ceremony held at the Inkosi Albert Luthuli Convention Centre, the premier highlighted the diverse challenges faced by officers from urban areas like Durban to the rural outskirts of the province.
Reflecting on recent violent incidents, including the tragic mass killing at the Mazibuko homestead in Estcourt, Ntuli praised the swift response of local law enforcement, which led to the arrest of six suspects.
He also commended the police for their work in apprehending suspects linked to other violent crimes, including the murder of a teacher at a primary school in Ntuzuma.
Ntuli did not shy away from addressing the darker aspects of policing, acknowledging the existence of “rotten apples” within the force who collaborated with criminals.
“Do not allow them to deter you from your excellent service,” he said.
Ntuli expressed his gratitude to police officers for their innovative problem-solving and compassion during difficult times, stating that their actions inspire hope in the communities they serve.
He reaffirmed the government’s commitment to providing the necessary resources, training, and support to enhance police effectiveness, which would now be easier as the department of community safety was in the office of the premier.
Ntuli concluded his remarks by stressing the importance of community involvement in crime prevention.
“Policing is not just the responsibility of the police force alone, but requires the active participation of all stakeholders,” he said.
He called for collaboration among community leaders, businesses and citizens to create safer neighbourhoods.
Meanwhile, provincial police commissioner Nhlanhla Mkhwanzi reminded members not to die with guns in their hands.
“We have the aggressive types of criminals … we’ve got people who are not afraid to kill,” he told eNCA.
“The majority of criminals that are involved in very violent crimes [in the rest of the country], the majority of those come from this province,” he said.
INSIDE POLITICS
