Durban - A man possibly linked to police killings and the Seven Oaks shoot-out with police was shot dead in another shoot-out with police in KwaMashu, Durban, while his alleged accomplice was arrested, KwaZulu-Natal police said on Sunday.
KwaMashu police were patrolling KwaMashu and surrounding areas at about 5.30pm on Saturday when they received information about suspects in possession of unlicensed firearms at KwaMashu men's hostel, spokesman Major Thulani Zwane said.
The officers called for back-up from the Durban flying squad, K9 unit, and Inanda police cluster task team, and an operation was launched, he said. “A house was identified at the hostel and there were more than 15 suspects inside.
“It was penetrated and when the suspects noticed that they were approached by the police, one of them fired shots towards the members and the members retaliated, fatally wounding him.
“A 9mm pistol was found in his possession and the second suspect was also arrested after he was found in possession of a CZ 7.5mm pistol with ammunition. Both suspects are suspected to be involved in police killing in KwaMashu and were part of the gang that escaped from [the] Seven Oaks shooting at Greytown last month,” Zwane said.
The arrested man, 23, was charged with possession of an unlicensed firearm and ammunition and would appear in the Ntuzuma Magistrate's Court on Monday.
Zwane said that in a separate incident on Saturday, Phoenix tactical response team members were patrolling in the KwaDukuza area when they followed up information about a suspicious vehicle in the area. A vehicle fitting the description was spotted and stopped. “The driver was searched and was found in possession of a 9mm pistol with ammunition.” It was established that the vehicle was earlier reported stolen in the Hillcrest area.
“On further investigation, the suspect took the members to his homestead at Maphumulo area where they recovered two AK47 assault rifles and ammunition hidden under his bed.
The suspect, 35, was charged accordingly and will appear in the KwaDukuza Magistrate's Court [on Monday on charges of] possession of unlicensed firearms and ammunition, as well as possession of [a] suspected stolen vehicle,” Zwane said.
KwaZulu-Natal police commissioner Lt-Gen Mmamonnye Ngobeni welcomed the arrests and the recovery of unlicensed firearms. “These firearms will be sent for ballistic tests to establish if they were used in any other crimes in the province.
“Our detectives will work tirelessly to establish if the suspect arrested in KwaDukuza is not linked to the killing of taxi owners in the province,” she said.
ANA