Nine suspected criminals were shot dead during a gun battle with police in Desai in Mariannhill, KZN, early this morning.

KZN police spokesperson Colonel Robert Netshiunda says police officers, who are members of the KZN Provincial Stabilisation Team, were acting on information on the whereabouts of a group of 11 suspects who have been terrorising Mariannhill and surrounding areas.

He says the area has become a no-go area for residents.

The suspects were also sought in connection with a case of rape for allegedly gang-raping a girl and making her mother watch the ordeal during a house robbery.

“They were also on police’s radar for [other] serious and violent crimes in the area. When police caught up with them, intelligence had uncovered that the suspects were [allegedly] plotting to execute a hit on someone.”

Netshiunda says although the police initially knocked on the wrong house’s door, they were still able to retaliate and neutralise the threat when the suspects started shooting at them.

He says nine suspects were killed during the shoot-out and no police members were injured.

Three firearms were found in the suspects’ possession and a search is still ongoing, says Netshiunda.