Notorious gangs in the crime-ridden Inanda township, north of Durban, are targeting law enforcement officials in their fight back against a clampdown by police.
This is the view of deputy chairperson of the Inanda community policing forum Mbongeni Phewa after the robbery and murder of presidential protection services (PPS) Sgt Sanele Dlamini, 36, who was killed on Tuesday evening while on his way home.
PPS officers are responsible for looking after the president, deputy president, ministers and deputy ministers as well as other VIPs including royalty and visiting dignitaries.
Dlamini had filled up with fuel before stopping at a nearby tuck shop.
“This is the challenge which we are now facing because these rogue criminals know their firearms are legal unlike the ones that they possess,” said Phewa.
Phewa said drugs were contributing to the crime wave. “When these boys [young gang members] get up to these things they are normally under the influence.”
Dlamini's distraught brother Phumlani, whose pain was etched in his eyes when he spoke to TimesLIVE Premium, wants his brother's killers to receive the harshest punishment.
Reaction Unit South Africa said the off-duty policeman was accosted by suspects who fired multiple shots at him before robbing him of his firearm and fleeing in a silver VW Polo.
Phumlani recalled how he was summoned by his distressed neighbours who told him about the tragedy.
“They [neighbours] came running and asked me what uniform my brother wore at work. I told them it’s similar to the one worn by soldiers. They also asked about the registration of his white Toyota Corolla. I told them it had a NJ registration and its exact numbers,” said Dlamini.
They then told him his brother had been shot, prompting him to rush to the scene.
“I found him wounded but he was still breathing,” said Dlamini.
I think it’s the second incident this year where a police member has been attacked and killed in Inanda. Criminals want to overpower and threaten us. This is something which is concerning for us
— Nthabeleng Molefe, Popcru provincial secretary
A quick-thinking Dlamini bundled him into a car and took him to the nearby Pixley Ka Isaka Seme Hospital in Bridge City.
“There was blood on his face. There was a bullet wound on top of his ear. I saw another underneath his armpit and two on his back. I think there must have been about four visible wounds,” said Dlamini.
Despite efforts to save him, the policeman succumbed to his injuries.
He said his brother retaliated by shooting one of his attackers during the gun battle.
“When we were at the crime scene we hadn’t seen the suspect who was shot. His friends had taken the gun from him and dropped him off at a local clinic. From the footage we got from the clinic we don’t know the person who dropped him there,” said Dlamini.
He said the family has established that some of the assailants are from uMlazi while others including the hospitalised suspect are from Inanda.
“On the day of the incident the assailants had run amok shooting all over in the township,” Dlamini said.
“The community knows them but the problem is they carry guns. The community could not react,” said Dlamini.
Dlamini’s sister, Ntombenhle Mhlongo, said the family was devastated by the loss of the father of two children, aged two and three.
“They left behind his car, wallet and cellphones,” said Dlamini.
She said they also learnt the hospitalised suspect was not aware that he had murdered someone who was known to him.
“He [suspect] believes it was a security official who was killed. I guess maybe because of the uniform he wore. We don’t know the suspects, but we are told among the suspects is one of his high school mates,” said Mhlongo.
“We are heartbroken. More so because Sanele was a breadwinner who kept to himself and never drank or smoked,” said Mhlongo. She said when he was not with his children he was at home or in church.
Provincial secretary of the Police and Prisons Civil Rights Union (Popcru) Nthabeleng Molefe condemned the incident.
“I think it’s the second incident this year where a police member has been attacked and killed in Inanda. Criminals want to overpower and threaten us. This is something which is concerning for us,” said Molefe.
She said the community needed to help the police. “Witnesses will be protected. We commend the work which is being done by community policing forums in rooting out crime.”
She also cautioned police and law enforcement officials to remain vigilant. “It's clear now that we are not safe, whether we are at work or in communities where we live. They should use the guns which they are given to protect themselves and their communities when their lives are under threat.”
Police spokesperson Col Robert Netshiunda said: “Reports indicate the victim was accosted by about five suspects who opened fire on him. The victim managed to shoot back and injured one of the suspects before he succumbed to his injuries.”
Netshiunda said a suspect was arrested at a nearby clinic.
Dlamini will be laid to rest on Wednesday in Highflats.
Would you like to comment on this article?
Sign up (it's quick and free) or sign in now.
Please read our Comment Policy before commenting.