It appears that criminals in KwaZulu Natal have disregarded the appeal made by police commissioner General Fannie Masemola to surrender instead of shooting at the police when being apprehended. Masemola delivered the plea yesterday while providing an update on police operations in the country. This morning, three-armed car hijackers were fatally shot by the police during a confrontation in T Section in Umlazi, located in the southern part of Durban, KwaZulu Natal.

COP SHOT

KZN police spokesperson Colonel Robert Netshiunda said one police officer was in stable condition after he was shot by suspects during a shoot out that left three suspected hijackers fatally wounded. "The suspects had just hijacked a woman of her vehicle at R Section in Umlazi, and police responded swiftly. A high-speed chase ensued and at T Section, the suspects opened fire at the police and in self-defence and a shootout ensued. Three suspects were shot and fatally wounded. A police officer was shot in the arm and is in a stable condition. The suspects were found in possession of three firearms as well as the hijacked vehicle. The hijacked victim was not harmed," he said.

DECISIVE RESPONSE

Speaking to the media yesterday, Masemola said that the police will be responding decisively to the war declared by criminals. "We remain resolute in our efforts to fight crime and anyone who threatens the safety and security of our communities. Our mandate as the SAPS is to bring perpetrators to justice by arresting them but quiet often in pursuit of arresting these often dangerous and heavily armed criminals, our police officers are more than often met with heavy gunfire, and that leaves our officers with no option but to defend themselves and the communities that they serve," he said. Masemola said they urge criminals to surrender themselves when called to do so by police. "If criminals carry water guns, we will also respond with shot guns, but when criminals fire with live ammunition, we have no choice but to defend ourselves and the communities that we serve. With this said, we will continue to use force that is proportional to the threat," he said.