In the early hours of Thursday, 25 July 2024, a suspected ATM bombing suspect was arrested whilst another was fatally wounded in shootout with police in Esikhaleni, Kwa-Zulu Natal as violent crime continues to plague the province.
Police officers responded to reports of an ATM bombing at a store in Esikhaleni, and swift investigations led to the arrest of a suspected getaway driver involved in the incident. A secondary vehicle used by the suspect was spotted in the Madlankala area. After being confronted by members of the SAPS, the suspects failed to obey lawful instructions from the officers. This culminated in the suspects opening fire on the police, with the ensuing shootout resulting in one suspect sustaining fatal gunshot wounds. A firearm was found in his possession and recovered by police.
A search commenced at the nearby sugarcane farm where the remaining suspects fled to escape arrest.
On the morning of Friday 26 July 2024, the KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Stabilization Team, part of Operation Vala uMgodi, acted on intelligence regarding potential suspects hiding at a house in KwaDlangezwa. As officers arrived on the scene and announced their presence, the suspects opened fire, initiating a shootout which resulted in three suspects being fatally wounded.
The suspects are believed to have been involved in the ATM bombing incident in Esikhaleni. In their possession police recovered at least two firearms. Additionally, the three suspects are believed to have been wanted for other crimes, including “at least ten cases of murder.”
The crime scene is still active with further investigations underway, the SAPS said in a statement. KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Commissioner Lieutenant General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi commented on the matter, stating “criminals who shoot at the police should expect the same kind of response.”
“Police officers have a mandate to arrest and bring perpetrators to justice, however if police find themselves under gunfire, the only option they have in order to come out alive is through the return of fire”, said Mkhwanazi.
