Families Dispute Police Claims
KwaZulu-Natal police are known for their efficiency in tackling crime, but their recent actions have raised serious concerns. Reports suggest that four men who were shot and killed by the police in Durban on Thursday, March 20, were not criminals as initially claimed.
According to the official police statement, the four victims were allegedly involved in robbery, murder, and extortion. However, their families strongly dispute this, arguing that they were wrongly accused and unlawfully killed.
Police Version of Events
Lieutenant-Colonel Paul Magwaza, a spokesperson for the KwaZulu-Natal police, stated that officers engaged in a shootout with four armed suspects along Dumisani Makhaye Drive. The individuals were allegedly linked to violent crimes in the area.
However, conflicting accounts from family members and witnesses challenge this version of events.
Families Seek Justice
The families of the deceased—Nathi Biyela (40), Nicolas Biyela (41), Sanele Ntuli (25), and Nhlakanipho Ntuli (31)—have rejected the police’s narrative. Zamokuhle, a relative of one of the victims, raised several concerns about the shooting.
He claimed that the men were returning from a meeting, and some police officers were present at the same gathering.
“If they were really wanted criminals, why weren’t they arrested at the meeting?” he questioned.
According to Zamokuhle, witnesses stated that the men did not fire at the police. Instead, officers allegedly stopped their vehicle, ordered them to exit, and searched them.
“How can unarmed individuals who were forced to the ground suddenly open fire at the police? That doesn’t make sense. The police shot them, put them back in the car, and executed them one by one,” he alleged.
Possible Motive Behind the Killing?
Zamokuhle suggested that the shooting might have been orchestrated due to tensions surrounding a project in a nearby hostel.
“We suspect that someone paid the police to kill them after the meeting. Now, they are trying to cover it up by labeling them as wanted suspects,” he claimed.
He also revealed that Nicolas Biyela had previously survived an assassination attempt, adding to suspicions that their deaths were not random.
Call for an Independent Investigation
The families of the deceased have demanded an investigation into the killings. They have taken the matter to the Independent Police Investigative Directorate (IPID).
“We are not satisfied with how this shooting happened. There are too many inconsistencies. Even the firearms the police claim to have recovered from them were legally owned,” Zamokuhle stated.
IPID spokeswoman Lizzy Suping confirmed that an investigation has been launched.
“The case has been registered with IPID, and our preliminary investigations have begun,” she said.
Community Outrage and Demands for Accountability
The incident has sparked outrage in the community, with many questioning the police’s actions and the legitimacy of their claims. Residents are calling for justice, transparency, and accountability from law enforcement.
As the investigation unfolds, the families of the victims hope that the truth will come to light and that those responsible for the alleged wrongful killings will be held accountable.