Suspect arrested, police officer injured following shootout

Provincial spokesperson Colonel Jay Naicker said Inanda detectives were driving to their residence when they spotted suspicious-looking men on Friday, Rising Sun Chatsworth reported.

“The suspects suddenly produced firearms and fired towards the members, injuring one of the police officials on his left thigh. Police returned fire and requested for backup. The injured officer was rushed to a medical facility for treatment,” added Naicker.

It is alleged the suspects were at Maweleni, Umlazi to commit a business robbery, where they tied the security guards with ropes in their guard room. The suspects made off with two cellphone batteries and two handsets.

“It appeared that something disturbed them, and they fled the scene towards the main road, where they saw the police officials and fired shots at them,” said Naiker.

The suspect will appear in the Umlazi Magistrates’ Court today. Last month, one suspect was shot dead, and three of his accomplices were arrested during a shootout in Newlands East, KwaZulu-Natal.

Major Thulani Zwane said Newlands East police were patrolling around Newlands doing their normal crime prevention duties yesterday when they saw a suspicious-looking vehicle with nine occupants.

Police tried to stop the vehicle, but the occupants jumped out and allegedly shot at the members, Zwane added.

The suspects ran towards the nearby bushes while shooting at the police, who retaliated, and one suspect was fatally shot, and three suspects were arrested, said Zwane.

Two unlicensed firearms, an AK47 rifle and a pistol were recovered from the suspects.

– Caxton News Service