Cops have to kill or be killed – Minister Cele

Police Minister Bheki Cele is defending members of the South African Police Service (Saps) after nine suspected criminals were killed in a shoot-out in KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) this week.

On Wednesday, police officers were ambushed by 11 gunmen, who were allegedly plotting to carry out a hit, after arriving at the wrong house.

The officers retaliated, killing nine suspects.

Police recovered three firearms and a rifle.

A manhunt has been launched for two other people.

Cele addressed the criticism of the ratio of suspects killed by the police compared to those arrested.

The minister highlighted that while the police make numerous arrests, officers need to defend themselves in life-threatening situations.

“There is one way of responding when the police are taken on,” he said yesterday.

He reminded the public that police officers get injured during operations.

“It cannot be true that these people are shot unprovoked.

“What I would not love to see is that after these operations we bury the police.

“I would rather be put in the dock and answer for these activities than to bury a member of the police as I have buried officers dying in this thing,” Cele said.

According to KZN police, the officers were actively pursuing the suspects after receiving numerous complaints from residents of Desai regarding violent crimes, such as murder, in the area.

Additionally, the suspects, aged between 18 and 22, were wanted in connection with a rape case.

It is alleged that they gangraped a girl during a house robbery, compelling her mother to witness the assault.

The minister stressed that the police must “come out top” when criminals retaliate since many officers have died in the line of duty.

“We have lost too many police officers.

“In one quarter, between October and December, we lost 22 police officers in three months.

“We have lost too many police officers on duty and off duty because they are targeted.

“So when they deal with suspected hardcore criminals, the police must respond in a way that corresponds to the kind of people they are approaching.”