A tense confrontation unfolded early Thursday morning in the Bester area of Inanda, north of Durban, when police clashed with five dangerous suspects, resulting in all five being fatally shot.
The suspects were on the wanted list for a string of serious crimes, including murder, attempted murder, and armed robbery. Officers were carrying out a targeted operation when the group allegedly opened fire first. Police returned fire in self-defense, and none of the officers were injured in the exchange.
This incident comes just days after another shootout in the nearby Amaoti area on Wednesday, where two suspects linked to a separate shooting that killed two people and injured others were also killed by police.
These events are part of a larger push by law enforcement to tackle the high levels of violent crime plaguing Inanda, one of KwaZulu-Natal’s hardest-hit areas. Investigations into both confrontations are still ongoing.