KWAZULU-NATAL – The community of Lamontville in Durban has appealed for a speedy investigation into the death of a female civilian, during police operations to retrieve looted goods in the area.

The 33-year-old was shot and killed last week and the Independent Police Investigative Directorate (IPID) is investigating the case.

Minister of Police, General Bheki Cele on Sunday 8 August 2021, visited Lamontville and engaged the residents on the events that led to the death of the resident.

Cele explained that members of the SAPS were acting on information of stolen goods such as electronics, appliances, food and more worryingly stolen ammunition stored in some of the houses in the area.

During the police operation, it is alleged that some residents mobilised each other and blocked the exit points to the township with stones and proceeded to slash the tyres of the police vehicles and attacked the members.

Minister Cele has made it clear that such attacks won’t deter officers from enforcing the law. He has urged officers to remain calm at all times.

“Attacking police officers for doing their job is unacceptable and this behaviour doesn’t have a place in our society, I am at the same time calling on communities especially, eyewitnesses to come forward with information that can assist the IPID investigation into the death of the young woman, if police are found to have been responsible for her death, then they will be made to account.” – Cele concluded.

The Independent Police Investigative Directorate (IPID) has appealed to residents to come forward with information that can assist their investigations into the shooting of the 33-year-old.

Meanwhile, the Police Ministry has welcomed the recent developments in the Phoenix murder cases, with the arrest of 31 suspects so far, for the murder of 36 people in the area during the attempted insurrection last month.

Source: South African Police Service