Suspect fatally wounded in a shootout with police – manhunt underway for two more

A suspect was shot and fatally wounded in a shootout with police which was preceded by a high speed vehicle chase on the N2 southbound in the Umhlali policing precinct just before midnight on Thursday, 19 September 2024.

Police were on night shift duties in the Nyoni area when they signaled for a vehicle to stop for the purposes of searching it. The driver of the vehicle ignored lawful instructions for him to stop and sped off and high speed chase ensued. The suspects fired shots at the police as they drove past the Mvoti Toll Plaza and just after the Tinley Manor Bridge, the suspects stopped on the side of the road, got out of their vehicle and continued shooting at the police.

At this point the police, who were all along tactically taking cover as they chased the shooting suspects, returned fire and one suspect was shot and fatally wounded. Two suspects escaped arrest by running into the bushes. A firearm was found in the possession of the deceased suspect. During the search inside the vehicle, police found seven bags of dagga worth an estimated street value of R50 000. The vehicle which the suspects were driving was fitted with false registration plates and three more sets of registration plates were found inside the vehicle.

A manhunt for the other two suspects is continuing.