FOUR armed men died during a shootout near the N3 in Pinetown, after the men were allegedly interrupted during a robbery on South Coast Road in Durban South at approximately 8pm on Thursday night.
Colonel Jay Naicker, SAPS KZN spokesman, reported the men fled when Bellair SAPS arrived at the scene. The Bellair SAPS requested assistance from the Umlazi K9 Unit and chased after the men. The men began shooting at the police on Booth Road and the police returned fire. “During the shootout a 59-year-old bystander was shot and injured. He was taken to a local hospital. The suspects continued to flee with police chasing them,” said Naicker.
The men crashed into a barrier on Spine Road in Westville as they attempted to enter the N3. Subsequently, they emerged from the vehicle and continued to shoot at the police. Police once again returned fire and three of the men were fatally wounded during the shootout.
Andreas Mathios, of Pro-Act Neighbourhood Watch and SA CAN, who was on scene, reported that the fourth man was killed when he got hit by a vehicle, as he attempted to evade the police by running across the freeway.
Naicker also reported that police recovered two pistols, two revolvers and an AK47 rifle at the scene. “It is suspected that these men could have been responsible for other robberies in the city,” said Naicker. According to Mathios, an undisclosed amount of money and various stolen items, such as cigarettes and toilet paper were found at the scene.
No police were injured during the shootout. Police have opened several case dockets, including murder, attempted murder, armed robbery and possession of illegal firearms, and the incident will be investigated.
