KwaZulu-Natal Minister of Community Safety and Liaison Bheki Cele said the recent killings of high- profile politicians in the province were not politically motivated.
Cele, who was speaking after eThekwini safety and security meeting in Durban on Tuesday, said police investigations had revealed that most of the attacks had been perpetrated by criminal elements.
He vowed that KZN would never experience a resurgence of political violence.
Cele also told members of the religious and business communities that he had called an urgent meeting with the diplomatic corps to allay their fears because talk of political violence was damaging the image of the province.
He gave the police a pat on the back for the quick arrests of most of the people suspected of being involved in these killings.
The recent killings of politicians prompted KZN Premier S'bu Ndebele to appoint a commission of inquiry to investigate the matter.
One of the political figures killed in KZN recently was former IFP warlord Thomas Shabalala, who was shot dead as he was going home in Lindelani township near KwaMashu.
Speaking about Shabalala's murder, Cele said family members had been arrested in connection with his death.
Another high-profile political killing was the assassination of ANC leader Prince Thulani Zulu in KwaNongoma.
"There is a new trend of crime taking place where high-profile politicians are being targeted and people are quick to scream political violence," said Cele.
"These killings are not politically motivated... there is a criminal motive behind them."
He said these killings should not be portrayed as a resurgence of the political violence that ravaged the province in the run-up to the 1994 democratic elections.
"We should stop shouting political killings, and let the police do their work. There won't be political violence in KZN... never again," he said.
He also revealed that KZN had been named as "the best in road safety and policing" during the festive season by Transport Minister Jeff Radebe. Radebe awarded KZN a B symbol for its performance. Other provinces had received C symbols. - [email protected]