Festive season safety in KZN: Police commissioner Mkhwanazi warns against lawlessness
KwaZulu-Natal provincial police commissioner Lieutenant General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi has said “police will be out in full force” during the coming festive season safety operations, and officers “will not negotiate with law breakers”.
He was speaking at the launch of the KZN police festive season operations on Thursday at the Amphitheatre Gardens in Durban. According to the KwaZulu-Natal police, the launch, whose special operations kicked off on October 15, signals the coming together of various law enforcement operations to ensure a safe and secure festive season.
He said while many holidaymakers came home to spend time with their families and for celebrations, others go back to their rural homes “to settle scores”.
“We have those who come to the province for ulterior motives. During the year, some people will hold grudges; some of them will have fights in the hostels in Gauteng and in the mines, and when they come home during this period, they want to settle scores by attacking each other, especially through revenge murders. We see a lot of this happening in the rural parts of our province.”
He urged local councillors and traditional leadership to mediate in these matters so that peaceful solutions can be found, promoting community safety.
However, he added that police would not hesitate to deal with those that break the law.
Mkhwanazi also warned against pens down parties and said matric pupils must focus on their future.
He added that if pupils were going to celebrate, they needed to behave responsibly.
“We understand that some are going to attend the parties. But these parties must not cause mayhem for the local communities. At these parties, underage learners indulge in alcohol and also take drugs. Unfortunately, many of these parties do not end well,” Mkhwanazi added, warning that young women could fall victim to rape or even murder..