Eight suspects, allegedly on their way to rob a business in Esikhawini, were killed in a dramatic shoot-out with police in Richards Bay on Thursday night. The KwaZulu-Natal police had intercepted the suspects’ vehicle on the John Ross Highway, but when instructed to stop, the driver ignored the command and fled. This sparked a high-speed chase during which the suspects fired shots at the officers, prompting a return of gunfire.
The shootout resulted in the suspects being fatally wounded, and police found them in possession of three firearms, two replica guns, and housebreaking tools. Investigations are now underway to determine whether the firearms are linked to other criminal activities. The suspects have been connected to a recent cash-in-transit robbery in the Mzingazi area.
This incident is part of a larger series of police confrontations. Earlier in the week, a suspect was killed in a shootout with police in Umlazi, and another was fatally wounded during an altercation in KwaMashu. Police had been tracking suspects wanted for multiple murders and cash-in-transit robberies.
The total number of suspects fatally shot by police this week now stands at 10, as law enforcement continues to tackle violent crime in the province. Arrested suspects from these incidents are expected to appear in court soon.
