A brazen gang of armed and dangerous criminals are still on the run and have made their intention clear to cops - they even called a station commander and threatened to kill every member at his station to avenge the killing of their comrades.
But while they were planning their daring attack, police swooped on their hide-out at a notorious KwaMashu hostel and shot three of them dead in the early hours of yesterday morning.
Now police are piecing together a puzzle which indicates that there is a link between several attacks on cops in the past month.
This includes the killing of Warrant Officer Jericho Mdletshe in Gingindlovu, and the shooting of Durban Flying Squad Warrant Officer Ashok Ramsakkan in KwaMashu just days apart two weeks ago. Ramsakkan died from his injuries on Monday.
His cremation on Wednesday saw dozens of hardened policemen fighting back their tears, while his police partner Sergeant Clinton Naidoo broke down at the final farewell - he called it the worst day in his career.
Brigadier Jay Naicker said police from different units pounced on the dangerous gang linked to the Seven Oaks shooting in Greytown last week, where seven gang members were killed, six on the scene, another dying in hospital.
Two more are under police guard in hospital. One of the bleeding men escaped the scene.
Soon after this incident, according to a police source who did not want to be named, the ringleader of the gang made an audacious call to the station commander at Nsuze police station in the KwaMaphumulo area.
He vowed to kill each and every policeman at the station, before hanging up.
It is believed that most of the gang originate from the rural area around KwaMaphumulo, and often use the hostel as a base to plan attacks.
Naicker said the SAPS National Intervention Unit, Hawks, K9 Unit and the Durban Flying Squad conducted an intelligence operation in a tavern in Kholwa Road, after receiving information from the community.
They raided the tavern and cornered the crooks who were playing pool - then the bullets started to fly.
“As the police entered the tavern they were met with gunfire and were forced to shoot back. Bullets whizzed past and everyone took cover while shooting in the direction of the gangsters. Three of the thugs died instantly, while the other four escaped in a white Toyota Hi-ace Kombi,” said a source.
On Saturday, four of the criminals killed last Friday were buried in the KwaMaphumulo area.
“These guys were planning to kill a dozen police members in retaliation. They are dangerous and armed with AK47 rifles and hand guns. There are believed to be about 35 members. This is a large group,” said the source.
The KZN Police Commissioner, Lieutenant General Mmamonnye Ngobeni, praised police on conducting the operation and recovering firearms.
“It is disturbing that these wanted men were hiding out in the hostel. We urge communities not to harbour criminals. This type of behaviour is contributing to serious and violent crimes,” she said.
Sunday Tribune