On the morning of 23 October 2020, a 26-year-old woman, who is a compliance officer, was shot and killed inside a school premises at Vumbu Reserve in Maphumulo. The suspects fled the scene and police were alerted. Police chased the suspects together with assistance of the community. Two men armed with a shotgun and a knife were intercepted in a forest by police officers. One man was shot and fatally wounded during the skirmish whilst the other man was arrested.
Police seized a shotgun and ammunition as well as a knife. The suspect will be charged for murder, attempted murder as well as illegal possession of a firearm and ammunition. He will appear at the Maphumulo Magistrate’s Court soon.
In another incident, a 46-year-old school principle was shot and killed at a school in Msinga at 12:00. The suspects fled with their getaway vehicle, which was found on fire a few kilometres from the scene. The men then allegedly hijacked a teacher who was on her way home and fled in her vehicle. Police intercepted the vehicle at KwaDolo Reserve in Greytown and six men were arrested. Police seized a R5 rifle, 2 revolvers and 65 rounds of ammunition as well as 8 cellphones and the hijacked vehicle.
Six men aged between 26 and 38 will be charged for murder and carjacking as well as illegal possession of firearms and ammunition. They will appear at the Greytown Magistrate’s Court on Monday, 26 October 2020. The firearms will be subjected to ballistic tests to determine whether they were used in other criminal cases.
The KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Commissioner, Lieutenant General Khombinkosi Jula congratulated police officers for their rapid response in both incidents as well as the community who assisted police in the apprehension of the suspects.
“These attacks on schools must be condemned by all sectors of society and we call on communities to work with police to proactively identify criminals living in their neighbourhood and to weed them out before they take the lives of innocent people. We will ensure that the suspects face the full might of law,” he said.
South Africa Today – South Africa News
