KwaZulu-Natal police commissioner Lieutenant General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi has praised the swift arrest of the alleged murderer of KwaDukuza traffic officer Superintendent Mariemuthoo Desmond Arumugam (50) earlier this month.

Speaking at a press briefing held at the KwaZulu-Natal provincial police headquarters in Durban today, Mkhwanazi reflected on policing activities from August 1 to date.

He also outlined the province’s readiness for the upcoming festive season and addressed other pressing issues.

“We appreciate the speedy arrest of a suspect who shot and killed a traffic officer from the KwaDukuza Municipality. The officer had responded to what appeared to be a traffic violation, only to discover it was a robbery in progress,” said Mkhwanazi.

Arumugam was tragically gunned down while investigating a taxi that was improperly parked on a bridge near the Groutville Road Traffic Inspectorate offices.

According to police reports, a man boarded the taxi in KwaDukuza, heading to Durban, and allegedly robbed the driver of R2,500 and four passengers of their cell phones at gunpoint near Thembeni on the N2. The taxi’s irregular parking drew Arumugam’s attention, but as he approached to investigate, he was fatally shot.

The robber drove the taxi into Thembeni and abandoned it, leaving the passengers inside.

Mkhwanazi also announced the deployment of 471 newly trained constables across the province to bolster law enforcement during the festive season.

“With these added human resources, we are ready to safeguard the people of KwaZulu-Natal and their property. I urge all visitors and residents to ensure their vehicles are roadworthy and display proper registration plates as required by law. There is no room for lawlessness,” he stated.

“Drinking and driving is a crime punishable by law. Our officers will not negotiate at roadblocks or checkpoints. They are mandated to enforce the law and ensure public safety.”

Highlighting the link between alcohol abuse and contact crimes, Mkhwanazi called for strict adherence to liquor trading permits.

Violations could result in liquor confiscation and immediate closure of non-compliant outlets.

The commissioner also updated the public on efforts to curb illegal activities, including the arrest of over 400 illegal immigrants during various operations across the province.

Many have been deported, while others remain in legal proceedings.

Operations targeting counterfeit goods and expired food outlets are also ongoing, further reinforcing the province’s commitment to law and order.

“We are focused on creating a safe environment for everyone in KwaZulu-Natal during this festive season and beyond,” said Mkhwanazi.

Between August 1 and November 22, police in the province arrested 42,079 suspects across various crime categories.

Of these, over 14,000 were apprehended for contact crimes. This included 926 arrests for murder, 986 for attempted murder, and 8,139 for assault with intent to cause grievous bodily harm.

Additionally, 639 suspected drug dealers – many of whom were foreign nationals – were taken into custody, with drugs worth millions of rand seized during the operations.

During the same period, police also recovered 1,525 firearms and 18,289 rounds of ammunition of various calibres.

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