Six suspects were shot and fatally wounded and five firearms were recovered in two separate incidents where suspects opened fire at police in KwaZulu-Natal in the early hours of Thursday, 16 May.
Four men who were suspected to be behind a string of cash in transit robberies in KwaZulu-Natal were shot and fatally wounded in an early morning shootout with police in Camperdown.
A team comprising of police officers from various units including the Hawks gathered intelligence regarding the whereabouts of the suspects and 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 another incident, police officers who are members of the National Intervention Unit operationalised intelligence and cornered two suspects who were sought for intimidation, extortion and other violent crimes.
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.
Police in KwaZulu-Natal remain committed to enforce and uphold the law by preventing, combatting and investigating crime. Suspects who challenge the authority of the state by shooting at police officers will be met with the force proportional to their actions.
