In the early hours of 20 December 2019, police officers from the Provincial Taxi Task Team were greeted by a hail of bullets whilst searching for a murder suspect in Mpumalanga township. The suspect (38) fired shots at police whilst inside the house and was fatally wounded during the ensuing shootout.
It is alleged that on 26 November 2019, at 09:15, a vehicle with eight people including a one year old child was travelling on Nagle Dam Road in Nyavu Reserve when three armed men fired multiple gunshots at the vehicle. The driver (40) and a child were fatally wounded whilst six passengers sustained serious gunshot wounds and were taken to hospital for medical attention.
A case with two counts of murder and six counts of attempted murder docket was opened at the Umsunduzi police station. The docket was transferred to the Provincial Taxi Task Team for investigation.
After an intensive investigation, an operation was conducted after intelligence was received with regards to the whereabouts of a suspect involved in the case. Police proceeded to a house on Sofasonke Road in Mpumalanga and the suspect opened fired on police as they approached the house.
The suspect was fatally wounded during the gun battle. A shotgun with its serial number filed off was found near the suspect. An attempted murder; illegal possession of firearm docket as well as an inquest docket were opened at the Mpumalanga police station. The suspect was out on parole after he was sentenced to 15 years imprisonment for robbery and attempted murder at Esikhaleni.
The recovered firearm will be subjected to ballistic tests to determine if it can be linked to pending cases.
The KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Commissioner, Lieutenant General Khombinkosi Jula was elated when he heard that police officers escaped the shooting unscathed. “As our Safer Festive Season Operations intensifies more of these criminals will be apprehended. We are continuing with similar operations, focusing on repeat offenders and those that are involved in serious cases such as murder,” he said.
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