Gauteng’s most wanted criminal, Mbuso Ndabazovela Biyela, was killed in the early hours of June 6 at the village Ematsheleni near Weenen in KwaZulu-Natal. Biyela died in a hail of bullets after a shoot-out with police.

The provincial commissioner of Gauteng, Lieutenant General Elias Mawela, has commended the multi-disciplinary joint operation team that conducted the take-down operation at about 03:00 following a manhunt for Biyela, a wanted suspect linked to eight cases including the murder of a police officer in October 2021.

Biyela was traced to a house in the village by the Provincial Serious & Violent Crimes (murder and robbery) Tracking Team, Soweto District Crime Intelligence, Gauteng and KwaZulu-Natal Tactical Response Teams.

As they approached the house, they were spotted by Biyela, who opened fire. A shoot-out between him and the approaching police officers ensued.

The suspect was fatally wounded, and an unlicensed firearm and ammunition was recovered by police.

Biyela was previously arrested in both KwaZulu-Natal and Gauteng for murder in August 2020 and October 2021 respectively, but managed to escape from lawful custody.

Biyela was positively linked to five cases of murder that were committed between October 2021 and March 2022. He was further linked to a case of hijacking in Lenasia in December 2017 and possession of an unlicensed firearm in Lenasia South in December 2017, as well as a KwaZulu-Natal August 2020 case of murder.

On Sunday, May 29 this year, Gauteng police offered a reward of up to R100,000 to anyone who could provide information leading to the arrest and conviction of Biyela.

Lieutenant General Mawela thanked members of the public who ensured the end of Biyela’s reign of terror.