IPID refers 44 KZN police-related death cases to NPA for prosecution - EWN

The Independent Police Investigative Directorate (IPID) referred 44 cases to the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) involving people who died as a result of police action in KwaZulu-Natal (KZN).

IPID refers matters to the NPA when it suspects a criminal case exists for the police officers involved to answer.

The police watchdog recently released its annual report covering the 2025/2026 period.

For the third consecutive year, KZN recorded the highest number of deaths caused by police action, with 134 people killed by police in the province during the year under review.

KZN also led the country in the number of criminal referrals made by IPID to the NPA.

However, the annual report showed that the NPA had yet to decide whether to prosecute the 44 referrals received from the watchdog.

IPID national spokesperson Lizzy Suping said prosecutors often required additional evidence before making a final decision.