By Everson Luhanga
A police van was burned to ashes and another stoned in Chatsworth, in KwaZulu-Natal by residents on Thursday.
A group of residents of Bottlebrush torched a police vehicle which was transporting police officers, who were tracking down two murder suspects in the notorious and densely populated informal settlement of Chatsworth, Durban.
The police, however, still managed to arrest the suspects.
KZN Provincial Police spokesperson Colonel Robert Netshiunda confirmed the incident.
Colonel Netshiunda said members of the eThekwini District Task Team, were tracing wanted murder suspects when the Public Order Policing officers were called to provide backup in the operation.
“While police officers were tracking and tracing the suspects on foot, a group of residents torched a police vehicle which was burnt to ashes. Another vehicle was stoned,” he said.
“Community members always complain about the lack of police resources which is a genuine concern. But there are those who seek to cripple the police service so that the thugs can continue their reign of terror.”
The Provincial Commissioner of KZN Lieutenant General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi has condemned the incident.
“Burning and stoning police vehicles is a serious crime. The team is already on the ground to find those behind this heinous act,” said Lieutenant General Mkhwanazi.
He said the destruction of the state resources did not stop the police from tracing the wanted suspects.
The arrested suspects will appear in court soon.
The incident happened 24 hours after police in the province shot and killed nine suspects on Wednesday morning.
Pictured above: The burnt police van.
Image source: SAPS
