Police officers at the scene of the shootout in Inanda. Picture: Tumi Pakkies Independent Newspapers
Two alleged criminals were shot dead in a gunfight with police in Inanda, Durban on Tuesday.
Brigadier Zwelakhe Mkhize, who was at the scene, confirmed that police had received intelligence about a group suspected of house robberies and moved in to arrest them when the shootout erupted.
According to Mkhize, police knocked on the door of the house where the suspects were hiding, and the suspects had opened fire.
Officers returned fire, resulting in the deaths of two suspects.
A third suspect, who was in the bathroom at the time, was arrested unharmed. None of the police officers involved were injured, Mkhize said.
He added that further investigations are under way to determine if the suspects are linked to other crimes.
The Inanda area has received intense focus from the police. In January, a 22-year-old man, who was allegedly the leader of the Inanda West Gang, and his 27-year-old accomplice were killed during a shootout with law enforcement officers in Cottonlands.
The shootout comes amid growing concerns over crime in KwaZulu-Natal, at a recent imbizo in Inanda, Premier Thamsanqa Ntuli noted that the area ranks among the top five police stations for murder and sexual violence, reporting the highest number of cases.
Speaking during an Provincial Government Lekgotla on Tuesday, Ntuli said: “Every day, the people of KwaZulu-Natal are terrorised by criminal elements who invade homes, places of worship, schools, shopping malls, and places of business in cities, towns, and informal settlements. While we are making some progress, crime continues to be a real threat,” said Ntuli.
Ntuli emphasised that tackling crime is a priority for his administration.
“This Lekgotla will emerge with programmes on how we can build peaceful communities as a necessary condition for economic growth and a social life that we can all be proud of,” he said.
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