Three Murder Suspects Fatally Wounded in Shootout with Police in Empangeni
On Friday, 26 July 2024, three men wanted for at least ten cases of murder were fatally wounded during a shootout with police in the KwaDlangezwa area of Empangeni. The suspects, who were hiding in a house, opened fire when the KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Stabilization Team, part of Operation Vala uMgodi, announced their presence, prompting the officers to return fire.
The suspects were also implicated in an ATM bombing incident in Esikhaleni on Thursday, which resulted in one suspect being fatally wounded. During the operation, police found at least two firearms at the scene, with further searches for additional evidence ongoing.
Lieutenant General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi, the Provincial Commissioner of KwaZulu-Natal, reaffirmed the police’s stance on self-defense, stating, “Police officers have a mandate to arrest and bring perpetrators to justice, however, if police find themselves under gunfire, the only option they have in order to come out alive is through the return of fire.”
This incident underscores the continued efforts by law enforcement in KwaZulu-Natal to address violent crime and ensure the safety of the community.
Source: [KwaZulu-Natal Police Department Press Release, 26 July 2024]