By Nkosana Khumalo
KwaZulu-Natal Police Commissioner Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi has expressed deep concern over the increasing involvement of young individuals in serious criminal activities, particularly in areas north of Durban. This follows the recent court appearance of six suspects linked to a series of crimes that have terrorised local communities.
Two months ago, a disturbing video surfaced on social media, showing a group of young men recklessly firing shots into the air. This footage not only highlighted the brazen behaviour of these individuals but also underscored the growing trend of youth participation in violent crimes.
Commissioner Mkhwanazi noted a troubling pattern: “What we’ve been seeing is that there is a trend that an average criminal that you are dealing with is 20 years old, that’s an average. They’re always below 30 if you find one or two. In this group, the eldest is 24 years old. Their master, their boss is 20 years old.”
This statement aligns with previous observations made by Mkhwanazi. In August 2024, he addressed the Crime Prevention Summit in Durban, stating that the province’s youth are among the highest criminal offenders. He expressed concern over the increasing number of young people finding themselves in prisons, indicating a systemic issue that needs urgent attention. 
The involvement of youth in criminal activities is not limited to isolated incidents. In November 2023, Mkhwanazi described the number of young people involved in violent, criminal activities in the province as alarming. He highlighted that many of these individuals are teenagers, some as young as 19 or 20 years old, who often reside with their parents but are beyond their control.
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