JOHANNESBURG - Criminals have been warned that the JMPD's new tactical response unit will shoot to kill.
Joburg Public Safety MMC, Mgcini Tshwaku, says the TRU will merely apply the principle of proportional and reciprocal justice.
The unit was launched in Johannesburg on Friday.
"If someone is pointing a gun, they're declaring that they're going to kill you. You must protect yourself.
"They are not going to shoot you on the leg, they're going to shoot you straight in the head," he said.
"Criminals have declared war, they just shoot anywhere. The stats are shocking, look at Honeydew, even in Alex, the patrollers are being attacked.
"I'm warning criminals who plan to undermine the JMPD TRU, we are not going to negotiate with them, once they take out guns to shoot at us, we'll just shoot to kill."