Jabu Ngcobo Drive in Verulam, Durban, was the scene of a dramatic clash between KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) police’s top sharpshooters and three of South Africa’s most-wanted cash-in-transit kingpins, this past weekend.
Two of SA’s most wanted cash-in-transit heist kingpins die in a hail of gunfire in Verulam
The serene atmosphere of the town situated 24 kilometres north of Durban was ruptured by a violent shootout, on Saturday, 17 February 2024.
In a statement, Durban police spokesperson Colonel Robert Netshiunda confirmed the encounter with the leaders of a notorious inter-provincial syndicate linked to money truck heists, kidnappings, business and farm robberies was coordinated.
The effort, Col. Netshiunda explained, was a collaboration between several law enforcement units, including the Hawks, private security companies and SAPS’ specialised tactical response team.
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The goal was to intercept the suspects’ vehicle and effect a crucial arrest that would have sent ripples across South Africa’s underworld.
However, as expected, the suspects, heavily armed with military-grade assault rifles, had no intention of surrendering to authorities.
“Upon noticing the presence of the police, the suspects started firing shots at the men of law. Police retaliated and a shootout ensued,” Netshiunda revealed.
Fortunately, the police’s aim was impeccable and while no civilians were harmed in the shootout, two of the country’s top underworld lieutenants were neutralised.
In a stroke of luck, a third suspect, whose identity remains under wraps for now, managed to slip away during the violent shootout, leaving his co-conspirators outgunned against the full might of the law.
“The two deceased were among the 15 suspects who attempted to kill TRT members during a foiled cash in transit robbery in Nkandla in August 2019. The very same suspects were later arrested but absconded from court after they were released on bail,” Netshiunda explained.
A trace effort is underway to isolate the suspect who survived the onslaught. It’s believed authorities are confident the unknown gunman is hiding in and around Durban, with no way out of the province.
Last Friday, Police Minister Bheki Cele delivered a keynote address ahead of the release of South Africa’s crime statistics for the third quarter of 2023/2024, where he lauded law enforcement officials for their efforts in reducing heists to 46 incidents, down from the previous reporting period.
This decline is attributed to successful law enforcement operations, which resulted in the arrest of over 75 suspects and the seizure of weaponry and vehicles used in these crimes.
” High calibre firearms including rifles and AK47s as well as high performance vehicles that were used in the commission of these crimes were seized,” Cele revealed.
