By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
SA Police Services in Kwazulu/Natal have confirmed that five suspected robbers have been killed in a shootout with police in Ntuzuma, north of Durban.
KZN Saps spokesperson Colonel Robert Netshiunda said that police were tracking an unconfirmed number of suspects who were travelling in two vehicles.
“Information at hand indicated that the suspects were planning to commit a business robbery in KwaMashu. The suspects’ two vehicles were parked at the corner of Mdubu and Melusi streets and it is suspected that the suspects had a disagreement which led to shots being fired among themselves.
Netshiunda said that police stumbled upon that altercation and the suspects then turned their guns to the police and police retaliated.
“A search in the vicinity of the crime scene led to the discovery of the body of the fifth suspect who had attempted to flee and had sustained gunshot wounds,” he said.
Netshiunda said that the suspects were found in possession of three firearms.
“No police officer was injured during the shootout. Two more suspects who were injured when the suspects shot each other were located at a hospital. A search is underway for the suspects who evaded arrest,” he said.
This comes after Police Minister, Senzo Mchunu, released the third quarter crime statistics for 2024/2025 on Friday and revealed a significant crime reduction.
Mchunu said for the third quarter, all provinces recorded a decrease in murder cases, marking a significant milestone in our national crime reduction efforts.
“However, Gauteng and KwaZulu-Natal remain the highest contributors to overall national murder figures, accounting for 0% and 21.4% respectively, followed by the Eastern Cape at 18.9% and the Western Cape at 17.4%,” he said.