The scene of the shootout where two wanted suspects were shot and killed by police officers. Pictures: Supplied
Two suspects connected to the brutal killing of seven family members in Hlokozi, Highflats, were fatally wounded during a shootout with police in Umlazi on Saturday afternoon.
The suspects had been under investigation since the mass murder that shocked the KwaZulu-Natal community a month ago.
Following the gruesome incident, the Provincial Commissioner of KwaZulu-Natal, Lieutenant General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi, deployed a dedicated task team to track down the killers.
“Their relentless efforts bore fruit last Tuesday when two other suspects, also linked to the crime, were fatally shot during a shootout with police. However, one suspect narrowly escaped arrest. The hunt for the remaining suspects continued, and on Saturday, police received crucial intelligence indicating that two of the suspects were en route to Umlazi for a cleansing ritual. Acting swiftly on this information, officers intercepted the suspects' vehicle on Old South Coast Road. When police signalled for the car to stop, the suspects responded with gunfire, leading to a fierce exchange of shots. Both suspects were fatally wounded in the shootout. Upon inspection, police recovered two firearms, which have been positively linked to the Hlokozi crime scene,” said SAPS spokesman Colonel Robert Netshiunda.
No officers were injured during the confrontation.
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