Two notorious murder suspects, linked to a double homicide of an elderly woman and a young girl, have been killed in a dramatic shootout with KZN police.
Image: File
Two suspects who were wanted for at least four counts of murder within the Hillcrest policing precinct have been killed in a shootout with police on Saturday,
Police spokesperson Colonel Robert Netshiunda said the suspects were wanted for murders including the recent double murder of an 84-year-old woman and a 13-year-old girl.
He said the suspects were shot dead at a residence on Mkhelekehleni Road at KwaNgcolosi in the early hours of this morning, March 21.
“Police gathered intelligence about the whereabouts of the suspects and when they arrived at the rondavel house in which the suspects were sleeping, a shootout ensued between police and the suspects.
“Two suspects were shot and fatally wounded during the shootout. Cases of attempted murder of police officers were opened for investigation. No police officer was injured during the shootout,” said Netshiunda.
Meanwhile three men have been sentenced to a combined 14 terms of life imprisonment plus 121 years in prison. This after the trio were found guilty of killing several members of the Khumalo family in Plessislaer between October 2021 and October 2022.
Netshiunda said the three men: Andile Wonderboy Ngcobo, Andile Sabelo Shezi and Mongezi Nyathi were sentenced in the Pietermaritzburg High Court.
Police said the trio's reign of terror started when they robbed a man of his firearm in Pietermaritzburg on 3 October 2021. Two weeks later three Khumalo brothers were shot at Imbali Unit J in Plessislaer.
Two of the brothers died at the scene and one survived. The Provincial Serious and Violent Crime Unit detectives took over the investigation and made a breakthrough when they arrested Ngcobo, Shezi and Nyathi for possession of three firearms.
Ballistic reports linked the firearms with the murders of the two Khumalo brothers and the three were subsequently charged for the murders.
“As the case was proceeding, the third of the Khumalo brothers, the one who witnessed and survived the shooting, was with his friend when they were both shot and killed. A day later, the parents of the Khumalo brothers were also shot and killed. The suspects' elimination of witnesses continued when they killed the sole remaining witness who was the sister to the slain Khumalo brothers. She was killed at a party in an incident in which three more people were also shot and killed at Emaqeleni area at Imbali Unit J.”
KwaZulu-Natal provincial police commissioner Lieutenant General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi applauded the thorough investigation by police detectives.
"The murders instilled fear among the community of Plessislaer and the capacity of police in dealing with serious crimes was questioned. Where prevention was not possible, police's reactive capacity must bring justice and closure to the families of the victims. We also appreciate the hefty sentences handed down by the court. This shows that cooperation between police, the prosecution and judiciary can go a long way in strengthening the authority of the state", said Lt Gen Mkhwanazi.
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