'We have to defend ourselves'

National police chief Masemola vows to fight fire by fire.

- Vhahangwele Nemakonde

National police commissioner Fannie Masemola says the police will continue to defend them from criminals who shoot at them first.

Masemola noted the successes achieved through nationwide operations at an Operation Shanela roadblock in Kempton Park yesterday.

Responding to criticism of shoot-outs between police and suspects, mostly in KwaZulu-Natal, Masemola said officers were often met with heavy gunfire and had to protect themselves.

The Independent Police Investigative Directorate (Ipid) is one of the organisations that has expressed concern over the number of crime suspects dying at the hands of police.

"We have listened to the different views that continue to be expressed by ordinary citizens and experts within the field of policing in relation to the number of suspects who have been shot and killed by police in KwaZulu-Natal in recent months," said Masemola.