Staff Reporter.
Poilce arrested five suspected hitmen who were on a mission to assassinate a “prominent individual” in Cato Manor in Durban.
Provincial police spokesperson Jay Naicker says a resident alerted them after spotting the suspects driving around in the area.
He says officers called for back-up and the group was cornered on Montille Road.
“Police officers then intercepted all three vehicles and arrested five suspects. In one of the vehicles the found a bag containing two high-calibre rifles. One of the vehicles was also confirmed as stolen.
“At this stage, the suspects were taken into custody for being in possession of a stolen vehicle as well as illegal possession of firearms. We are quite certain one the investigation unfolds, we will be able to link the suspects to other crimes in KwaZulu-Natal.”
A source close to the investigation says the alleged target of the hit was a taxi boss.
Meanwhile in an unrelated incident, Naicker said two suspects have been remanded in custody and will be back in the dock on 26 April 2023 in the Pinetown Regional Court following their arrest by the police in Mariannhill.
He said the two suspects, aged 24 and 26, were arrested for cases of armed robbery and the illegal possession of a firearm and ammunition which they are alleged to have committed in Pinetown.
“(A) shrewd police investigation successfully placed the two suspects at the crime scenes in Mariannhill and the firearm which was found in their possession was positively linked with the murder of five people who were killed on the same day at two separate crime scenes,” said Naicker.
Provincial police commissioner Lieutenant-General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi praised the police officers who had acted swiftly to operationalise information from a community member.
Mkhwanazi said the successful arrest of the suspected hitmen contributed to maintaining the trust that residents of KwaZulu-Natal had in the police.
Compiled by Lehlohonolo Lehana.