By BAKANG MOKOTO
25 July 2025- Activists and Citizens Forum said it agrees and supports the Kwa-Zulu Natal Police Commissioner, Lieutenant General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi, when he said the police cannot negotiate with criminals who are busy challenging and undermining the authority of the police. The Forum said they commit heinous crimes such as cash-in-Transit heists, kidnappings, and shooting at police using heavy caliber firearms, killing police and innocent people.
The Activists and Citizens Forum spokesperson, Dennis Bloem said they cannot expect to be treated with kid gloves. Bloem said they were very concerned about media reports, reporting that the incoming acting Minister of Police, Firoz Chachalia, was allegedly saying that there must be a different and new approach on how to deal with crime.
“This is what Professor Chachalia reportedly said: “Giving the police licence to kill is not the answer to crime. I do not believe that Skiet, Skop en Donner brings down crime. What it does is criminalise the police because they then start acting unlawfully”.
“Unfortunately, we completely disagree with Chachalia on his approach and totally agree and support the approach that the police are applying in fighting these criminals – fighting fire with fire,” he said.
Bloem further said they believe what Mkhwanazi has started in KZN province by taking these criminals head-on. He added that it is bearing positive results all over the country.
“Criminals know now they have nowhere to hide. The latest successful operation was the Crown Mines Gauteng incident, where five Cash-in-Transit thugs were killed by police. We applaud the police with their recent successful operations.
“The police cannot do it alone without our support of the Public. It is our responsibility to assist the police in creating a safer country by helping the police with information if we know of any criminal activities,” said Bloem.
The Guardian 