The gun battle took place in South Beach, the Point area of Durban just before midnight on Monday. Picture for illustration: iStock
Six suspected extortion and murder suspects have been killed in a shootout with police in Durban, KwaZulu-Natal (KZN).
It is understood the gun battle took place in South Beach, in the Point area of Durban, just before midnight on Monday.
KZN police spokesperson Colonel Robert Netshiunda said the suspects were wanted for several extortion and murder cases, the most recent being the slaying of four people in Mariannhill on Monday night.
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“Police were tracing suspects who shot five people and killed four of them execution-style on Siyaphambili Road in Tshelimnyama in Mariannhill, KZN, on Sunday night.
“Five men were seated on the side of the road drinking alcohol when the suspects arrived in a vehicle armed with pistols and a rifle and ordered the victims to lie down before shooting them on the back of their heads,” Netshiunda said.
Netshiunda said police managed to trace the suspects and pounced.
“The suspects were hiding in Newlands East and, upon arrival, further intelligence was collected that the suspects were at a rented holiday apartment on South Beach Avenue in the Point area of Durban.
“When police announced their presence at the apartment, the suspects opened fire and a shootout ensued. All six suspects were shot and fatally wounded during the shootout. No police officer sustained any injuries,” Netshiunda said.
Netshiunda added the suspects were also linked to the recent triple murder of three men near a tuckshop in a Mpumalanga township in Hammarsdale.
“They were also linked with a robbery on Friday evening at a shop on the ground floor of the apartment they were found in. It is also suspected that the suspects were involved in illicit drug trade.
“Before a thorough search of the apartment, police had found three firearms in the possession of the suspects. The firearms will be subjected to ballistic testing to ascertain if they could be linked to other crime scenes,” Netshiunda said.
He said police are also hot on the heels of the person who booked the room for the slain suspects.
More than 40 alleged suspects have been killed in shootouts with police since April this year.
The gun battles have raised questions about whether criminals are waging a war against police or law enforcement officials against the criminals.
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