Three robbery suspects linked to a series of violent incidents in Waterloo outside Durban in KwaZulu Natal (KZN) were neutralised by the community within hours following a crime spree leaving one assailant dead, another injured and a third in custody.
Members of Reaction Unit South Africa (RUSA) were dispatched at approximately 22:34 on Friday following a call for assistance reporting that a robbery suspect had been apprehended by members of the public in Phase 2.
On arrival, Reaction Officers found a 20 year old male who had been pursued, overpowered and assaulted after participating in an armed robbery minutes earlier.
The 28 year old victim reported that he had been confronted by three (3) males while walking home from work. Two of the perpetrators were armed with firearms while the third carried an Okapi knife.
He was robbed of cash and stabbed in the back and thigh before a passerby intervened, forcing two of the offenders to flee in a white Toyota Avanza without registration plates.
The third was captured by the public and sustained injuries to his face and body during the assault. The victim was privately transported to Hospital for treatment.
On Saturday, Reaction Officers responded following reports of a taxi driver who had been shot in an attempted robbery.
It was established that two suspects approached a Toyota Quantum taxi as the driver was dropping off his girlfriend. One of the attackers produced a firearm and opened fire on the driver while he remained seated in the vehicle.
The driver was armed and returned fire in self-defence, forcing the perpetrators to flee on foot. The victim sustained a gunshot wound to the left side of his abdomen and was privately transported to hospital.
Multiple spent cartridges were recovered on scene and the driver’s firearm was handed over to the Verulam SAPS in KZN. The mini bus was shot multiple times.
It is believed that the deceased male is one of the perpetrators involved in the attempted robbery while the injured and arrested individuals form part of the same group responsible for the earlier robbery.
He was clasping a Glock pistol (picture 8.
All injured parties were transported privately to hospital.