KZN police gun down eight suspects in two separate incidents

KWAZULU-NATAL police have gunned down eight suspects in two separate shootouts within two days, following ongoing efforts to clamp down on violent crime in the province.

On Sunday evening, five men suspected of multiple murders were fatally shot during a gunfight with police in the Mophela area of the Mpumalanga township, near Hammarsdale. 

According to a police statement, the officers had received intelligence about the suspects’ movements and intercepted them on the Mophela main road.

When officers signalled for the suspects to stop, they allegedly opened fire on police. Officers returned fire, killing all five suspects. Police recovered three firearms at the scene, and a full investigation of the suspects’ vehicle followed.

The suspects were reportedly linked to the murder of a 66-year-old man in the Ekwandeni area the previous weekend. That same man had survived a shooting in January, but his wife was later killed in February. 

Additionally, the group was believed to be connected to the murder of two police officers.

On Monday, three suspects were killed in a separate shootout with police in Amaoti, Inanda, a township north of Durban that is known for its high crime rate. While police have yet to release full details about the incident, the suspects were also believed to be involved in a murder case.

The back-to-back incidents comes after provincial police commissioner Lieutenant-General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi held a strategic meeting with police commanders last week in Durban. 

At the meeting, Mkhwanazi stressed the importance of cracking down on crime and urged law enforcement to restore safety across KwaZulu-Natal communities.

As investigations continue, police said there was a strong possibility that the suspects might be linked to additional violent crimes in the region.

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