Two men wanted for murder and robbery were killed in a shootout with police in KwaZulu-Natal. The gun battle took place at Thembeni, Kwadukuza, on Monday afternoon.
According to police spokesperson Colonel Robert Netshiunda, law enforcement officials had been tracking the suspects for a while, narrowly missing them last week.
Colonel Netshiunda explained that intelligence had been gathered about the suspects’ presence in the area. Police managed to intercept the suspects along the Link-Thembweni Road and signaled for their vehicle to pull over.
Upon stopping, the two suspects exited the vehicle and began shooting at the police, which resulted in a shootout. Ultimately, the two suspects were fatally wounded, while a 41-year-old female driver was unharmed and subsequently arrested.
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One firearm was found in the possession of the suspects. Notably, a police officer was saved by a bullet-resistant vest after getting shot three times in the chest. This officer will undergo counselling through the Employee Health and Wellness programmes.
Preliminary investigations have revealed that the suspects’ vehicle belonged to a police officer, though no linkage has been established between the officer and the deceased suspects. The suspects have been linked to multiple criminal cases, including four murders, one attempted murder, and one house robbery. A search for additional suspects, believed to be part of the syndicate, is ongoing.
KwaZulu-Natal Police Commissioner Lieutenant-General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi and Police Minister Senzo Mchunu visited Section V6 in Umlazi, Durban on Monday, where six people had been shot and killed a few days earlier.
Mkhwanazi attributed the rise in violent crime to the availability of firearms and alcohol, calling for stricter controls and responsible trading practices. Mchunu urged suspects to surrender to the police, emphasizing that officers will not retreat when faced with gunfire. Over the past month, at least 40 suspects have been killed in shootouts with police in KwaZulu-Natal.
