Police Urged to Respond Decisively to Armed Criminals
Senior SAPS commander Lieutenant-General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi says officers should act firmly against armed criminals amid rising attacks on police.
Updated on Nov. 15, 2026 in Law Enforcement
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Lieutenant-General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi said police officers should be able to respond decisively to armed criminals during a media briefing this week. SAPS spokesperson Brigadier Athlenda Mathe reportedly supported the position, saying officers are trained to neutralise threats.
Why it matters
The remarks come amid growing concern over attacks on police officers across South Africa, with several SAPS members reportedly killed in recent months. It remains unclear whether the comments will lead to changes in existing operational guidelines.
The position was stated publicly by SAPS leadership, but no formal policy change or new directive has been announced. The Constitution's Chapter 11 provisions were cited, while the exact guidelines governing police use of force remain unspecified.
The players
Lieutenant-General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi
Mkhwanazi is a senior commander in the South African Police Service who has spoken publicly on police powers and the handling of armed criminals.
Brigadier Athlenda Mathe
Mathe is the spokesperson for the South African Police Service who has communicated the organisation's position on officer training and threat response.
POPCRU
The Police and Prison Civil Rights Union is a South African trade union representing police and prison employees that has called for clearer guidelines on responding to armed criminals and organised gangs.
The details
Mkhwanazi cited Chapter 11 of the Constitution, which outlines SAPS responsibilities, saying police must fight crime and protect the public. Mathe said internal guidelines are aligned with constitutional provisions governing lawful defensive action, but the police service did not provide details on when officers may use force.
Timeline
In recent months, several SAPS members have reportedly been killed in Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal and the Western Cape.
This week, Mkhwanazi addressed journalists during a media briefing on police powers.
Legal Context
Mkhwanazi's remarks rest on Chapter 11 of the South African Constitution, which sets out the mandate of the police service to fight crime and protect the public. The call for clearer use-of-force guidelines sits within a wider debate over how that constitutional mandate is translated into operational rules for officers facing armed criminals.
Residents in Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal and the Western Cape may see police responses to armed criminals shaped by any revised guidance on use of force. For now, the reader impact is limited to the public debate, as no operational changes have been confirmed.
The takeaway
Clear rules on the use of force protect both officers and the public, so watch for any published guidelines that spell out when police may act. The debate over armed criminals and officer safety is likely to continue as attacks on police remain in the news.
Further reading
Explore more on Law Enforcement to see how police powers and officer safety are covered across the country.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Ghanamma.
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