Bullets fly in high speed chase after Stanger home attack

A gang of at least eight armed men brought chaos to the N2 south of Stanger this afternoon during a high-speed chase and multiple gunfights with police and security companies.

This followed a brazen daylight attack earlier this afternoon (Friday) on a home belonging to a Stanger businessman in Ridge Road.

In what would appear to have the makings of a well planned and targeted attack, video footage shows the men wearing masks and entering the property in a white BMW 5-series and a red GTI before rushing into the building in numbers.

In mere moments the men were running back out, piled into the two vehicles and sped away. It is not known what was stolen during this blitz-style assault.

Also read: One dead, two arrested in N2 shootout

KwaDukuza SAPS spokesperson constable Sibusiso Khuzwayo told the Courier the men attempted to hit another house in Stanger Manor when security agencies were alerted and gave chase.

According to IPSS Security’s Dylan Meyrick, the robbers in the two vehicles raced south on the N2 where members of the Road Traffic Inspectorate (RTI) joined the chase.

Police and security agencies headed out to the different tollgates, and chokepoints along the R102.

“The suspects took the Groutville offramp before opening fire on the RTI members,” Meyrick said.

It would appear the two vehicles then split up, as the red GTI was abandoned in Thembeni while the white BMW fell off the radar.

This is where local microlight pilot David Daniels enters the story.

Hearing about the chase near to his airfield just off the highway, Daniel took to the air to help the search.

“It was a split-second decision,” Daniel told the Courier.

“Once I was in the air and the adrenaline started wearing off I thought I must have rocks in my head – here are people running around and shooting at each other and I am completely exposed and vulnerable up here,” he said with a laugh.

This is not the first time Daniel has assisted the authorieties, as he said he had taken part in previous manhunts, air-surveillance and search and rescue operations.

After abandoning the GTI, Meyrick said several of the criminals were involved in yet another shootout with RTI members as they ran across the very airfield Daniel had just taken off from and headed into the cane.

“From blood discovered at the scene of the first gunfight, it appears at least one of the men was hit.”

At this stage of the chase, conflicting reports make it difficult to track the robbers.

Some reports indicate that the men who abandoned their vehicle were picked up in a white bakkie, and later reports seemed to indicate others had jumped into a white polo.

“Right now this is not clear,” said Meyrick, “It is possible they were picked up in one of these vehicles, or they may have fled into the cane on foot.”

Also read: Salt Rock burglar shot and killed in beach gunfight

Anyone with information on the robbers is urged to contact the police.

The search is still on for the white BMW 5-series with the registration Nt 173 25 and local emergency centres will be monitored for the potentially gunshot victim.

If you have any information regarding the whereabouts of these men, contact KwaDukuza Police at 032-551 8287.

Footage of the robbery that was originally shared here has been removed. 

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