Last night, Durban Flying Squad members arrested two suspects aged 23 and 34 during a shootout on the N2 freeway in Shaka’s Rock. It is alleged that police received a tracking signal of a stolen vehicle and they gave chase. A Kia workhorse cab with three occupants was tracked on the N2 northbound, police instructed the occupants to stop. Suspects opened fire on police and police retaliated, fatally wounding one (26) of the suspects on the Shaka’s Rock turn-off. Two other suspects were arrested.
Police recovered the vehicle that was stolen in the Greenwood Park area, Khabazela Road, a pistol with two rounds of ammunition and a bolt cutter. Suspects will be charged for attempted murder, possession of firearm and theft of motor vehicle. They will appear in the Durban Magistrates’ Court soon. When the police contacted the owner, he did not even know that his vehicle had been stolen whilst asleep in his home.
In another operation conducted by KwaMsane Tactical Response Team and Kwambonambi police, a 65-year-old suspect was arrested for attempted murder and his pistol was seized. Police went to Nseleni Township, searching for suspects involved in a house robbery and rape incident that occurred in June 2017 at Nozambula reserve, Kwambonambi. When police pounced on the suspect, he opened fire on police, injuring a police officer (40). The suspect was also shot and taken to hospital under police guard. The injured police officer is recovering in hospital with head injuries. The suspect will be charged for attempted murder and will appear in the Empangeni Magistrates’ Court soon.
KwaZulu-Natal Acting Provincial Commissioner, Major General Bheki Langa commended the police on the arrests and the recovery of firearms. “These firearms will be sent for ballistic testing to ascertain if they were used in any other crimes. Attacks on police while conducting their duties cannot be tolerated and we will ensure that those criminals are prosecuted,” he said.