KZN shootout: Are cops a law unto themselves?

Few crime-terrorised South Africans will have had much sympathy for the gang of nine alleged robbers and rapists gunned down this week in a shoot-out with cops in KwaZulu-Natal (KZN).

The community of Mariannhill, which they used as a base for their alleged reign of terror, were jubilant that their ordeal had ended.

On the one hand, it is heartening to see police being so successful in carrying out their mission to take the criminals off our streets.

This is particularly so against the background of a perceived lack of commitment or results from other cops around the country.

On the other, what is happening in KZN has some of the hallmarks of an undeclared war between cops and those they believe are criminals.

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And the body count is rising: it stands at more than 30 this year alone.

Again, there might be people who applaud this and the police may have had to use deadly force to save their own lives.

But, unless there is a thorough investigation into these killings, the worrying thought remains that these are extra-judicial executions… with no due legal process being followed.

If we start allowing cops that leeway to become a law unto themselves, then we have to wonder: today, thugs, tomorrow, us?