Zulu King Goodwill Zwelithini has pledged his support to police in the fight against crime, the police ministry said on Tuesday.

Spokesman Musa Zondi said Zwelithini met and congratulated Police Minister Nkosinathi Nhleko for the good work that the police had done with the bust in Kloof, Durban, of a multi-billion-rand drug operation.

"Drugs are a menace to the whole society, particularly as they are directed at the youth. And the best way to finish a nation is to target the youth," Zwelithini said in a statement.

He pledged his support to the fight against crime and would immediately call on his chiefs and subjects to partner and co-operate with police.

Nhleko visited the king in KwaZulu-Natal as part of his national tour of meeting key stakeholders in all provinces.

Nhleko said all stakeholders had a co-responsibility to fight crime and contribute to a safer South Africa as envisaged in the National Development Plan.

"We believe that with the commitment of all South Africans, we can seriously making inroads in the fight against crime.

"We will be engaging with all stakeholders - communities, traditional leaders, church groups, research institutions, business and all other interested groups because we believe that police cannot do this work alone," he said.