KwaZulu-Natal Remains South Africa’s Deadliest Province for Police Violence
KwaZulu-Natal has once again shown itself to be South Africa's deadliest province for police-involved fatalities, with the Independent Police Investigative Directorate (Ipid) reporting 256 deaths associated with police actions in the 2024/25 financial year. This figure highlights a severe national crisis surrounding lethal policing practices.
These fatalities stemmed from 168 incidents categorised as "death as a result of police action." The discrepancy between the number of deaths and incidents occurs because multiple victims are often killed during a single encounter, such as during robberies or hijackings. Alarmingly, the province experienced a 26% increase from the 133 cases recorded in 2023/24, marking one of the sharpest declines nationwide.
At a national level, Ipid registered a total of 515 deaths from 460 police-action incidents, reflecting a 12% rise in fatal outcomes year on year. KwaZulu-Natal accounted for 33% of all national killings, followed by Gauteng with 102 cases, the Eastern Cape with 91, and the Western Cape with 53. Other provinces reported considerably lower figures: Free State (27), Mpumalanga (31), Limpopo (21), North West (16), and Northern Cape (6).
The methods of killing are alarming. Most incidents involved suspects being shot with service firearms—234 shootings occurred during arrests, and 118 during ongoing crimes. Additionally, 17 firearm-related deaths arose from domestic violence interventions. Other causes of fatalities included assault during arrests and investigations (10 cases each), negligent handling of official vehicles (25 cases), and suffocation during arrests (three cases).
Fatal encounters extended beyond mere statistics, with 427 deaths occurring at crime scenes, 183 in hospitals or clinics, and 100 in police holding cells. This data paints a grim picture of police violence and the environment in which it unfolds.
The increasing death toll comes amid heightened scrutiny of the province’s police leadership under Lt-Gen Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi, who alleged last July that senior South African Police Service (SAPS) officials, along with suspended police minister Senzo Mchunu, had been compromised by criminal syndicates. These grave allegations led to the establishment of the Madlanga Commission and an ad hoc parliamentary committee aimed at investigating police conduct in the province.
Beyond killings, Ipid's report sheds light on a broader landscape of alleged brutality. Assault cases increased nationally by 5%, rising from 3,176 to 3,320 incidents. The Western Cape recorded the highest number at 674 cases, closely followed by Gauteng (519) and the Free State (473). KwaZulu-Natal itself accounted for 277 assault cases.
Notably, allegations of torture—a grave indicator of systemic abuse—rose by 6% nationwide, from 273 to 290 cases. KwaZulu-Natal again led with 71 complaints, followed by the Free State (60), Eastern Cape (59), and others. The reported methods of torture included suffocation during interrogations, the use of electric shocks, forced painful positioning, and psychological intimidation.
Another concerning trend is the 20% national increase in complaints involving the discharging of official firearms—from 621 to 745 incidents. KwaZulu-Natal's complaints in this category soared by 49%, rising from 78 to 116, raising critical concerns about the use of force protocols and bystander safety. Despite these alarming statistics, accountability among law enforcement remains weak, with a backlog exceeding 14,000 cases, severely hampering Ipid’s capacity to conduct thorough investigations.
The South African Police Service has attempted to frame the rise in fatal police shootings as a tragic consequence of officers confronting a violent criminal element. National police spokesperson Brigadier Athlenda Mathe stated, "There is no violent police culture; if any, it’s the criminals who seem to have adopted a violent approach when confronted by police officers." She characterised the fatalities as a tragic yet inevitable outcome of officers defending themselves and the public.
Mathe underscored the operational risks faced by officers, framing the use of force as a matter of survival. “In one shootout incident, at least ten police officers are involved, meaning that if suspects have their way, the South African Police Service can easily lose ten police officers,” she said.
She insisted that all actions are conducted within a strict legal framework, detailing how police are bound by laws governing the use of force. “Police officials are required to act in accordance with the law at all times,” Mathe asserted. When asked about the rising number of fatalities, she emphasised, “The fact that there has been an increase in such cases must be considered against the level of violence and the fact that suspects will not hesitate to attack police officials when they are cornered.”
As the national conversation about police violence continues, the findings from KwaZulu-Natal serve as a stark reminder of the urgent need for accountability, reform, and effective oversight of law enforcement practices. The statistics demand urgent action to address not only the tragic loss of life but also the systemic issues contributing to pervasive police violence in South Africa.
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