KEY POINTS
- Two off-duty police officers were among four killed in a KZN tavern shooting.
- Police unions demand stronger safety measures for officers both on and off duty.
- Authorities shut down the tavern, which was found to be operating illegally.
A violent tavern shooting in KwaZulu-Natal has left four people dead, including two off-duty police officers, prompting outcry from law enforcement unions and renewed calls for stronger officer safety measures.
The attack took place on Monday night at a tavern on Ikhwezi Road in Bhidla Section, Sundumbili, where police say at least five suspects opened fire.
Fatal Tavern shooting sparks urgent calls for police protection
According to Colonel Robert Netshiunda, provincial authorities have launched a manhunt for the suspects.
He said the attack started with a minor altercation between one of the off-duty officers and a group of five men.
The situation seemed to have been resolved peacefully when the officer bought the men drinks, but later, a second confrontation broke out outside the tavern.
When one of the officers was shot, he ran back inside the tavern, followed by the suspects, who then opened fire indiscriminately, killing three people on the spot, including the officer.
The second officer was rushed to a hospital but was pronounced dead on arrival. The four additional victims who received injuries remain under medical care in the hospital.
The authorities deemed the tavern illegal and closed it down while confiscating all the liquor at the venue.
Police unions condemn attacks on law enforcement
The Police and Prisons Civil Rights Union (POPCRU) and the Public Servants Association (PSA) have strongly condemned the rising violence against police officers, both on and off duty.
POPCRU spokesperson Richard Mamabolo said the growing trend of off-duty officers being targeted is concerning, as their line of work makes them vulnerable even outside official duty.
“The killing of law enforcement officers is an attack on the entire justice system. Whether on duty or not, they remain a symbol of law and order, and targeting them creates fear and instability within our communities,” Mamabolo said.
According to IOL, PSA KwaZulu-Natal manager Mlungisi Ndlovu echoed these sentiments, calling for urgent intervention to improve police safety across the province.
“Increased police visibility, intelligence-driven crime prevention, and harsher penalties for those attacking law enforcement officers must be prioritized,” Ndlovu said.
He emphasized illegal liquor spots as crime centers and pleaded with authorities to increase regulations for such businesses.
Government responds as investigations continue
KwaZulu-Natal Premier Thamsanqa Ntuli has shown his growing worry about rising violence throughout the province.
The office demands community support for police investigation activities to achieve conviction of offenders.
The national police commissioner General Fannie Masemola has reported that since October 2024, the total number of police officer deaths reached 21 with nine fatalities during police duty hours and twelve occurring off duty.
In response, police have intensified their Safer Festive Season Operations, leading to the arrest of 30 suspects involved in officer killings, with some receiving life sentences.
Authorities are now calling on anyone with information about Monday’s tavern shooting to report it immediately via Crime Stop at 08600 10111.
