Six suspects were shot and fatally wounded and five firearms were recovered in two separate police shootouts in KwaZulu-Natal during the early hours of Thursday.
Four men, suspected of being behind a string of cash-in-transit robberies in the province, were shot dead in Camperdown while two others, wanted for intimidation, extortion and other violent crimes, were killed in Mariannhill.
SUSPECTS WHO CHALLENGE THE AUTHORITY OF THE STATE BY SHOOTING AT POLICE OFFICERS WILL BE MET WITH THE FORCE PROPORTIONAL TO THEIR ACTIONS.
Brigadier Jay Naicker
KwaZulu-Natal police spokesman Brigadier Jay Naicker said in the first incident, investigations led officers from various units including the Hawks to a property in Camperdown.
“When police announced their arrival at the identified house, they were greeted with a hail of bullets from the suspects. The police officers returned fire and during the shootout, four suspects sustained fatal gunshot wounds. Three firearms were found in the possession of the suspects.”
In the second incident, National Intervention Unit members cornered two people in their hideout in Mariannhill.
“When police pounced on the suspects at their hideout at the Klaarwater Hostel in Mariannhill, the suspects opened fire at the police officers who were stamping the authority of the state. Two suspects were shot and fatally wounded in the shootout. Two firearms were found in the possession of the suspects,” said Naicker.
