MEC lauds KZN police for recent successes

KwaZulu-Natal MEC for Transport‚ Community Safety and Liaison Willies Mchunu has lauded police in the province for excellent work that led to long term imprisonment of criminals and recovery of illicit goods this week.

Mchunu said these successes by police in KZN needed to be applauded as they sent a clear signal that police were doing their work efficiently and without fear or favour.

These successes include the sentencing of three ward councillors from KwaNdengezi‚ west of Durban‚ to life imprisonment. The councillors are Nqola Ngcobo‚ Velile Lutsheku and Mlungisi Ndlovu‚ who in 2014‚ fatally shot Ms Thulile Ndlovu. Ndlovu was the leader of Abahlali Basemjondolo. There were each sentenced to life imprisonment on Friday.

In another important development‚ the meticulous work of police led to long term imprisonment of seven Richards Bay criminals who were found guilty for robbery with aggravating circumstances for cash in transit heists. They received combined sentences of 193 years.

Dickson Khushza Nene was sentenced to 44 years‚ Ntokozo Ephraim Dube to 32 years‚ Vusi Zama Gina to 20 years ‚ Thuthukani Small Mnguni to 25 years‚ Phumlani Mvelase to 20 years‚ Siyabonga Ntuli to16 years and Khulekani Mbatha to 36 years.

“Also the law enforcement agencies‚ including Hawks‚ CI and K9 Shongweni on Friday arrested four suspects with 166 heroin tablets. The four are due to appear in Durban magistrate s court on Monday‚ 23 May 2016. In another search and seizure operation‚ police recovered counterfeit cigarettes valued at R54‚000 in Maydon Wharf‚ Durban on Friday‚ said Mchunu’s spokesman‚ Sipho Khumalo.

Mchunu praised the police‚ saying this excellent work sent a loud and clear message to criminals that the province had hard working police.

“This is excellent work‚ indeed. We say bravo to police and urge them to even work harder. Equally‚ we call on members of the community to work closely with the police to ensure that criminals are removed from our society‚” said Mchunu.