THE senseless killing of cops both on and off duty is a big concern for Mzansi.
Police are entrusted with safeguarding the citizens of this country and fighting crime, but who protects them? More and more men and women in blue are being killed almost every day.
Are the streets following them in their comfort zones? The concern is when police officers are being killed in their homes, and what causes cops to be murdered while off duty?
The uncontrollable high crime rate has come back to bite the very same people who are fighting it. Cop killings are condemned daily, but what can be done to stop it?
One would think that criminals are now taking things personal with the men and women in blue. But on the other hand, fighting crime is not a soapie act that could be faced out by characters being on and off screen. It is a challenge for the country and it's real because it affects the daily lives of citizens.
The spike in the murders of police has come with shocking stats. The recent incident is the one that happened in the Northern Cape when two cops were killed on duty.
The officers, Constable Okaetse Mandindi (35) and Sergeant Kedimetse Masilo (45), were killed while trying to trace a stolen car in Kimberley last month. The officers gave their lives to serve the people of Mzansi.
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According to the crime stats released in August and despite Mzansi’s murder rate reducing by 3,1%, the number of officers killed almost doubled during in the first quarter of 2022-23.
The recent quarterly crime statistics revealed that 31 police officers were murdered between April and June 2023 only.
Here is the issue: there are more guns on the streets than ever before. What is more concerning is the arrest of illegal miners who are mostly found with heavy machine guns coming to Mzansi.
Also, cash-in-transit robbers, during their arrest, tend to possess more guns as well. Unemployment as well has led to normal citizens changing their good ways and committing crime.
More needs to be done by the government to protect the lives of law enforcers, especially police, in ensuring that Mzansi remains safe for all.
