On 17 August 2019, a multidisciplinary operation consisting of various disciplines within the SAPS was conducted at Nhlawe in Weenen. During the operation police officers confronted a heavily armed criminal gang.
The men resisted attempts to arrest them and a shootout ensued. A 28 year old suspect was fatally wounded during the exchange of gunfire whilst a 21 year old suspect was placed under arrest. Police seized two AK 47 rifles, a R5 rifle, an air gun and 101 rounds of ammunition at the scene.
Initial investigations indicate that the arrested suspect is positively linked to a murder committed in Estcourt.
It is alleged on 11 May 2019 at 19:30, an off-duty police officer, Constable Nkosinathi Khumalo (35) was shot and killed at Estcourt. He was dragged out of his vehicle and his killers fled with his car. Following the murder, the police officer’s car was recovered the following day in Nhlawe after a shoutout between the suspects and police. The arrested suspect will appear at the Weenen Magistrates Court tomorrow.
The Provincial Commissioner for Kwazulu-Natal, Lieutenant General Khombinkosi Jula hailed the breakthrough into the killing of Constable Khumalo. “The arrest and recovery of these firearms are evident that police officers in this province are closing in on criminal gangs who commit serious crimes in the false belief that they can evade law enforcement. These types of operations are going to be intensified so that we break this vicious cycle of serious and violent crimes in KZN,” said Lieutenant General Jula.
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