Sixteen arrested in Pinetown for taxi shootout
The gang of armed men were charged with murder, attempted murder and the possession of illegal firearms.
SIXTEEN men were arrested in Pinetown in connection with a shootout in Durban yesterday that left one person dead and two others seriously injured.
According to KZN SAPS spokesman, Colonel Thembeka Mbhele, the taxi-related shooting happened at the taxi rank in Brook Street in Durban.
The group of heavily armed gunmen, who were travelling in a Toyota Quantum minibus taxi, stormed the taxi rank, fired multiple shots and sped off.
“Three people were seriously injured and taken to hospital and a 56-year-old later passed away,” said Mbhele.
The shooters fled towards Pinetown and a police officer from the Pinetown Task Team spotted their vehicle in Chelsea Avenue in New Germany and gave chase.
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The gang opened fire and the policeman retaliated. No injuries were sustained and the group of gunmen abandoned their vehicle and ran into a building in Scott Road in Pinetown.
“The National Intervention Unit were called in. A total of 16 suspects were arrested and a total of 17 firearms were seized, this includes nine rifles, a shotgun and seven pistols,” said Mbhele.
The suspects will be charged for murder, attempted murder and the illegal possession of firearms. They will appear in court soon.
The case will be assigned to the Provincial Task Team. “The firearms will be subjected to ballistic testing to ascertain if they were used in any other pending cases,” concluded Mbhele.
The KwaZulu-Natal Acting Provincial Commissioner, Major General Bheki Langa, commended the swift response by police. “We will not tolerate any violence, especially relating to taxi industry as members of community are normally caught during the exchange of gunfire,” he said.
