Pretoria, South Africa – The Independent Police Investigative Directorate (Ipid) is facing challenges due to the increasing number of cases involving police shootings, impacting the workload of investigators. Recently, Ipid spokesperson Phaladi Shuping emphasized how the surge in cases has led to delays in completing investigations. Jennifer Ntlatseng, the head of Ipid, expressed her concerns about the frequency of these shootings, particularly fearing the possibility of innocent individuals getting harmed.
In the 2022/23 Ipid report, instances where multiple individuals were killed as a result of police actions were highlighted, especially in incidents like business robberies and vehicle hijackings. The report revealed that provinces such as KwaZulu-Natal and Gauteng recorded numerous incidents where two to four victims were involved, with some being innocent bystanders caught in the crossfire.
Recently, in KwaZulu-Natal, members of the provincial stabilisation team took action against suspects accused of terrorizing residents in Mariannhill and surrounding areas. A gun battle between the police and suspects resulted in the death of nine suspects. According to Police spokesperson Col Robert Netshiunda, these suspects were not only wanted for previous offenses but were also allegedly involved in a heinous crime of gang rape during a home invasion.
Ntlatseng disclosed that a team has been dispatched to investigate the incident thoroughly. She expressed concerns about the potential risk of innocent casualties during police operations targeting suspects. The team will also engage with local residents to ascertain if any innocent individuals were inadvertently involved in the crossfire, encouraging families to come forward with any information to aid in further investigations.
Efforts are being made to ensure that every individual involved in police operations is thoroughly scrutinized to prevent any wrongful casualties in the future. Ntlatseng’s commitment to upholding accountability and transparency in police actions underscores the importance of thorough investigation and consideration for innocent bystanders affected by law enforcement operations.