Johannesburg, South Africa – The Independent Police Investigative Directorate (IPID) is facing challenges with the increasing number of cases involving deaths as a result of police action. This surge in cases is having a detrimental impact on the workload of investigators, leading to delays in the finalization of investigations, according to IPID spokesperson Phaladi Shuping.
Concerns have been raised by IPID boss Jennifer Ntlatseng about the frequency of these shootings, as there is a fear that innocent bystanders could potentially be harmed. The latest 2022/23 IPID report highlights instances where deaths resulting from police action involved multiple victims in incidents of business robberies and vehicle hijackings.
The report reveals that the KwaZulu-Natal province recorded 19 incidents of multiple deaths, ranging from two to four victims at a scene, with Gauteng following closely behind with nine similar incidents. Tragically, some of the victims were innocent bystanders caught in the crossfire during these incidents.
In an effort to address the issue, officers from the KZN provincial stabilisation team recently took action against suspects terrorizing residents in Mariannhill and surrounding areas. A firefight ensued, resulting in the deaths of nine suspects. These suspects had been under police surveillance for some time and were wanted for a heinous crime involving the gang-rape of a girl and forcing her mother to witness during a house robbery, according to police spokesperson Col Robert Netshiunda.
Ntlatseng has taken steps to investigate the incident further and establish connections between the killed suspects and ongoing cases. She emphasized the importance of distinguishing between innocent individuals and actual suspects during such operations to prevent the unintended loss of innocent lives. As part of the investigation, residents in the area will be interviewed to determine if any innocent bystanders were caught in the crossfire during the police operation.
“It is crucial that families come forward if their loved ones were inadvertently affected during the operation, so that we can conduct thorough investigations,” Ntlatseng stated. This proactive approach aims to ensure accountability and transparency in cases involving deaths as a result of police action, ultimately working towards minimizing harm to innocent individuals in the community.