Three men who police said were among the most wanted criminals in KwaZulu-Natal were killed in a shoot-out with police officers on Monday.
Captain Thulani Zwane said the men, whose names were not released, were shot and died when they fired at officers trying to arrest them in Cato Ridge.
“The gun battle took place at Cato Ridge at around 8.30am today after officers from the Cato Manor organised crime unit confronted the men,” said Zwane.
A police source, who may not be named because he is not allowed to speak to the media, said officers from the provincial hijacking task team and the Durban Dog Unit had also taken part in the operation to trace the men.
Zwane said the men were wanted in connection with several cases, some dating back to 2005.
“Police were following up information that three men they were looking for in relation to cases dating back to 2005 were driving in the streets of Cato Ridge.
“They proceeded to the location and spotted the men driving in a white bakkie. When the police tried to pull them off the road, the suspects stopped and opened fire at the police. Police returned fire, killing the men.”
A 9mm pistol and two revolvers, with erased serial numbers, were recovered from the men.
Zwane said the trio were part of a gang wanted in connection with several cases, including a house robbery in Phoenix in 2005 and ATM bombings at Highflats, near Port Shepstone, and Izingolweni, in southern KwaZulu-Natal, in 2007 and 2008.
Police believe the men were part of a seven-member gang that robbed several places of worship in Verulam and other areas in June to August this year.
A police source said among those who were shot dead was the suspected kingpin of the gang, who was linked to about 50 cases of house robberies and hijackings.
In one of the robberies, seven men held up 20 people at a mosque in Old Main Road, Ottawa, on July 27, and robbed them of jewellery, cellphones and cash.
Two cars – a VW Polo and a Lexus – were stolen. No one was injured.
A week after that incident, 70 worshippers at a Verulam temple were robbed of valuables.
The men are also thought to be linked to house robberies and hijackings in Durban North, Greenwood Park and Phoenix earlier this year.
Moses Dlamini, spokesman for police watchdog the Independent Complaints Directorate, said that investigators would look into yesterday’s shooting in Cato Ridge.
Two other men thought to be members of the same gang were killed in a shoot-out with police in KwaMashu in August.
Police Lieutenant-Colonel Vincent Mdunge said at the time that the men, Sipho Rawery and an unidentified man, who were being chased by police, crashed their vehicle and then opened fire at police.
The officers returned fire, killing the men. - The Mercury