KEY POINTS
- A deadly shootout broke out among suspects at an intersection.
- Residents feared for their safety as bullets hit homes.
- Police believe the shooting is linked to drugs and robbery.
Several suspects were killed in a firefight between suspected criminals in Lindelani, Ntuzuma, on Sunday night, leaving people in a state of anxiety for their protection.
Gunfight erupts among suspected criminals at a busy intersection
According to KwaZulu-Natal police spokesperson Col. Robert Netshiunda, an unspecified number of suspects were allegedly preparing a business robbery in KwaMashu while driving two vehicles.
Gunfire resulted after a dispute between the suspects when their cars were stopped at the intersection of Mdubu and Melusi streets, according to Netshiunda.
According to Iol, the suspects turned their weapons on the officers, who retaliated when the police happened upon the incident. One suspect allegedly ran away during the gunfight and called his mother later to claim he was hiding in a creek and didn’t know where he was.
Escaped suspect found dead in a nearby stream
Schoolchildren found his dead face-up in the lake by morning. One person said, “They said someone was sleeping in the stream.”
After watching television, a woman who lives close to the scene reported hearing gunfire while on Facebook.
She answered, “I hid with my baby.” One bullet impacted the baby’s diapers, another struck the wall, and a third struck our window. We’re stunned.
A number of children lived in the main house, which was also damaged. Out of panic, a young resident claimed to have hidden in a closet.
Njabulo Mseleku, chairperson of the Ntuzuma Sector 2 Community Policing Forum, stated that while the motivation for the shooting is yet unknown, it may be connected to drugs and robbery. According to reports, some of the suspects were narcotics traffickers.
Although Mseleku hinted that the suspects might have had local ties, the community said they were not locals.
He questioned, “How could someone who didn’t know the area run and end up in a stream?”
He continued by saying that there has been an increase in crime in the area, especially armed robberies, with occurrences involving cars, guns, and e-hailing drivers apparently turning to criminal activity.
According to All Africa, three guns were found among the accused. Two more suspects were later discovered at a hospital after being hurt during the gunfight.
He claimed that no police officers had been hurt. “The suspects who escaped arrest are being searched.”
