Authorities in KwaZulu-Natal are currently on the lookout for individuals responsible for setting a police van on fire in Bottlebrush, Chatsworth, south of Durban.
A group of residents of Bottlebrush torched a police vehicle which was transporting police officers, who were tracking down two murder suspects in the notorious and densely populated informal settlement of Chatsworth.
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In a separate incident, another police vehicle was stoned. The attack occurred on Thursday morning while officers were in pursuit of wanted murder suspects.
Lieutenant General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi, the provincial police commissioner, has strongly condemned the incident and vowed to leave no stone unturned in apprehending those responsible.
He acknowledged the concerns raised by community members regarding the lack of police resources but emphasised that there are individuals who aim to cripple the police service in order to continue their reign of terror.
Mkhwanazi emphasised that burning and stoning police vehicles are serious crimes, and a dedicated team is already on the ground working to identify the perpetrators behind this heinous act. Colonel Robert Netshiunda, the KZN police spokesperson, provided further details about the incident.
According to Netshiunda, members of the eThekwini District Task Team were tracking wanted murder suspects in the area when they requested backup from the Public Order Policing officers. While the police were on foot, tracing the suspects, a group of counter-productive residents set one police vehicle ablaze and stoned another.
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Lieutenant General Mkhwanazi stressed that the destruction of police resources is a direct attack on the authority of the state. Despite the incident, the police were undeterred and managed to apprehend two suspects, as well as recover firearms and an air rifle. The arrested individuals are expected to appear in court soon.
