Last week a suspect entered a flat in the Stamford Hill area of Durban and shot a couple while they were asleep in their bedroom.
KwaZulu-Natal provincial police spokesperson Colonel Robert Netshiunda said on September 3, 2024, around midnight a suspect allegedly went to a block of flats on Mansel Road in Durban and shot at a couple who were sleeping in their room on the third floor.
“The male victim was declared dead at the scene whilst his female companion was rushed to hospital with gunshot wounds. The couple’s three-year-old child survived the shooting unharmed,” he said.
Netshiunda said in the early hours of Wednesday morning, September 11, police acted on intelligence about the suspect who was wanted on charges of murder and attempted murder for the shooting.
“The suspect was traced to a shack in Cato Crest and when police arrived, the suspect opened fire and during the resultant shoot-out, he was fatally wounded,” he said.
A firearm was found in his possession, he said.
Netshiunda added that a police officer was treated at the scene after he sustained a minor injury resulting from a bullet which went through his bullet-resistant vest.
In another incident in the early hours of Wednesday, police said, two police officers are receiving medical attention after they were shot and injured by a suspect during a shoot-out in the Okhalweni area of KwaMaphumulo in northern KZN.
Detailing the incident, Netshiunda said police were searching for a suspect who was wanted for serious violent crimes including murder and cash-in-transit robberies when they received intelligence about his whereabouts.
“When police pounced on him at the identified residence, the suspect refused to open and as soon police used minimum force to gain entry into the house, the suspect opened fire at the police, injuring two police officers,” he said.
Netshiunda said the other police officers returned fire during the shoot-out, the suspect was fatally wounded and a firearm was found in his possession.
The injured police officers, a captain and a warrant-officer, were taken to hospital where they are recovering, he added.
Meanwhile, in a separate incident on Tuesday night, police responded to reports of a minibus taxi which was hijacked in the Mariannhill area, south of Durban.
Netshiunda said the driver was dumped on Edwin Swales Drive and police caught up with the hijacked minibus taxi on Cato Manor Road.
“Upon realising the presence of police officers, the passenger in the hijacked minibus taxi started shooting at the police and the police retaliated,” he said.
According to Netshiunda the driver abandoned the vehicle and fled while the passenger continued shooting at the police.
“He was shot and fatally wounded during the shoot-out,” he said, adding that the suspect was found in possession of a firearm and a subsequent search in the vehicle led to the recovery of another firearm.
“A manhunt is ongoing for the suspect who evaded arrest,” said Netshiunda.
The Mercury