In a recent operation, three suspects believed to be members of the notorious West Gang were killed in a shootout with KwaZulu-Natal police.
The operation involved members from the Hawks tracking and anti-gang units, South African Police Service, and eThekwini crime intelligence. The group was cornered in La Mercy, Durban, following intelligence that they were involved in serious crimes, including murders in the Inanda area.
As the police closed in on the suspects at the Lungelani informal settlement, the suspects opened fire, leading to a fierce exchange of gunfire.
Three suspects were fatally wounded during the shootout, and two pistols were recovered from their possession. However, it is believed that other members of the gang managed to escape during the confrontation.
This incident comes shortly after a similar operation in Inanda, where six suspects were killed in a shootout with the police.
The suspects were wanted for a series of house robberies, murders, business robberies, and carjackings. In that operation, the police acted on intelligence that led them to a house in Emachobeni, Inanda. The suspects responded with gunfire, resulting in the death of six suspects and the arrest of three others.
In yet another operation, two suspects were fatally wounded in a shootout with the police in Inanda.
The police were following up on intelligence regarding individuals suspected of being involved in the killing of three people and the attempted murder of seven others in Newlands. The shootout took place at two different crime scenes, and two suspects, aged 34 and 39, were killed.
These operations demonstrate the commitment of the police in KwaZulu-Natal to combatting crime and ensuring the safety of residents. The search for other suspects involved in these criminal activities continues, as the police remain steadfast in their constitutional mandate to combat, prevent, and investigate crime.
