The recent recent spate of police killings of armed suspects, particularly in KwaZulu-Natal, has garnered praise from a public fatigued by rampant crime.
The most recent fatal shooting of six armed suspects in Germiston and the deadly encounter with a disputed traditional leader in Mthatha, who was allegedly extorting local businesses, highlight the increasingly hardline stance taken by police.
However, this approach also raises serious questions about the extrajudicial nature of these killings and the implications for the criminal justice system.
Public approval of these actions reflects a deep-seated frustration with crime, especially in townships where residents cannot afford the protection of private security firms.
It is telling that the killings, rather than sparking outrage over due process violations, are being lauded as necessary measures. This reaction underscores the public’s exasperation with a justice system that seems ill-equipped to handle the scale of criminal activity plaguing the nation.
In many communities, the high crime rates reported in recent statistics feel like a death sentence for ordinary citizens.
While police are indeed authorised to use deadly force when confronted by armed suspects, the increasing frequency of these encounters raises concerns about the legality and oversight of such actions.
Independent Police Investigative Directorate (Ipid) head Dikeledi Ntlatseng has warned about the dangers of extrajudicial killings by police, noting that each incident must be scrutinised to ensure officers act within the bounds of the law.
Should these actions prove to be extrajudicial, it would signify a troubling admission that our justice system has failed, forcing police into roles that are more executioner than enforcer of the law.
The enthusiasm for these fatal outcomes is a stark reminder that many South Africans feel abandoned by a government unable to secure their safety.
A comprehensive approach is needed, not just through empowering police and courts with more funding, but also through addressing the causes of crime.
Government initiatives should focus on providing education, affordable housing, and economic opportunities to dissuade young men from resorting to crime.
Only by tackling these issues can we hope to transform crime from a viable path into a dead end, ensuring that justice is served not just with bullets, but within the bounds of the law.
* Quinton Mtyala, is the Western Cape Regional News Editor.
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