Four suspected taxi hitmen have been killed in a shoot-out with police in KwaZulu-Natal's Mooi River area, on Monday afternoon.
Police said among the dead, is a 40-year-old suspect wanted in connection with several shootings including the murder of a Bergville taxi association chairperson and his deputy who were killed in February and June.
“He was also wanted for the Bergville taxi rank shooting in which a taxi owner was shot in an incident where a commuter was hit by a stray bullet, as well as June 2024 attempted murder of a taxi owner in Winterton,” police said.
South African Police Service (SAPS) spokesperson, Colonel Robert Netshiunda, said officers had been following up on an intelligence-led operation after having received information about suspects being in the area.
“Police intercepted the suspects’ vehicle on the N3 Highway and signalled for the driver to stop, however, the driver sped-off and took the Hidcote turn-off, joining the R103 road towards Estcourt,” he said.
Netshiunda said during the high speed chase, suspects opened fire on police who then shot back.
“Four suspects who were the occupants in the vehicle were shot and fatally wounded. Two firearms, a rifle and pistol, as well as ammunition were found in the possession of the suspects,” Netshiunda said.
He explained that the firearms would be subjected to ballistic testing to investigate if they are linked to other violent crime scene elsewhere in the province or around the country.
“Although police vehicle was riddled with bullet holes, no police officer was injured in the shootout,” Netshiunda said.
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