Stanger Manor shootout suspects appear in court

The 21 people that were arrested on Thursday, January 29 in Stanger Manor in relation to taxi violence appeared in the KwaDukuza magistrate’s court yesterday.

The case was remanded until February 16 and 17 for the formal bail application in the Durban regional court.

The accused will remain in custody until then.

In a joint operation between the Hawks, KwaDukuza detectives, Kranskop SAPS and with the assistance of ORS Durban harbour tactical response team, 21 were arrested on charges of attempted murder, obstructing police from performing their duties and for the possession of unlicensed firearms and ammunition.

The men were arrested after a shootout at the same house from which a convoy of vehicles were seen leaving from moments before the previous shooting on January 14, where the Maphumulo Taxi Association was allegedly ambushed in Primrose Street.

“As police approached the house at around 5am, the occupants started shooting at the police and they called for backup. Police entered and raided the house and found 15 unlicensed firearms, including AK-47’s, LM-4 semi-automatic rifles, nine millimeter pistols, and ammunition, an army jacket and a police bullet proof vest,” he said.

An undisclosed amount of cash was also collected as evidence.

“We believe these people may be linked to the ongoing taxi violence in the area,” Zwane said.

Nobody was injured in the shootout.