In a late-night operation on Monday, 2 September 2024, KwaZulu-Natal police fatally shot six wanted murder suspects during a dramatic shootout at a rented apartment in Durban’s South Beach area.
Story Summary:
- KZN police killed six wanted murder suspects in a shootout at a South Beach apartment.
- The suspects were linked to multiple murders and extortion cases in Mariannhill and Hammersdale.
- Police recovered firearms and are investigating further links to other crimes.
South Beach shootout: KZN police kill five wanted murder suspects
The suspects, who were linked to a series of brutal murders and extortion cases, engaged in a gunfight with police officers after refusing to surrender.
According to police, the operation followed an intensive investigation into the execution-style murders of four men on Siyaphambili Road in Tshelimnyama, Mariannhill, just the night before.
The victims had been ordered to lie down by the suspects before being shot in the back of the head.
Acting on intelligence, police tracked the suspects to a hiding spot in Newlands East, and further information led them to the South Beach apartment.
Upon arrival at the apartment on South Beach Avenue, police were met with gunfire as they announced their presence.
In the ensuing shootout, all six suspects were killed.
Remarkably, no police officers were injured during the exchange.
The suspects were also linked to a triple murder in Hammersdale, as well as a recent robbery at a shop located in the same building as the apartment where they were found.
Police recovered three firearms from the suspects, which will undergo ballistic testing to determine their connection to other crimes.
Authorities are also searching for the individual who rented the apartment for the suspects.
How KZN police are closing the gap on criminal syndicates
The successful operation in South Beach is part of a broader strategy by KwaZulu-Natal police to dismantle criminal syndicates in the province.
The SAPS in KZN has acknowledged the growing cooperation between law enforcement and local communities, which has resulted in an increase in tip-offs leading to arrests.
This partnership has proven effective, with over 12,000 suspects arrested and nearly 500 firearms recovered in August alone.
