| 2024/11/05 |
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Media Statement
DURBAN – Four suspects who were wanted for taxi industry related murders were shot and fatally wounded in a high speed vehicle shootout with police in Mooi River on Monday afternoon, 4 November 2024. Police officers conducted an intelligence-led operation after information was received about the suspects’ presence in the Mooi River area. Police intercepted the suspects’ vehicle on the N3 Highway and signalled for the driver to stop, however the driver sped-off and took the Hidcote turn-off, joining the R103 road towards Estcourt. During the high-speed chase, suspects started firing shots towards the police, and in order to protect themselves and other road users, police returned fire and during the subsequent shootout, four suspects who were the occupants in the vehicle were shot and fatally wounded. Two firearms, a rifle and pistol, as well as ammunition were found in the possession of the suspects. One of the suspects was a 40-year-old man who was most wanted in connection with the Bergville shootings of a taxi association chairperson and his deputy who were both shot in February and June 2024 respectively. He was also wanted for the Bergville taxi rank shooting in which a taxi owner was shot in an incident where a commuter was hit by a stray bullet, as well as June 2024 attempted murder of a taxi owner in Winterton. Firearms recovered will be subjected to ballistic testing to investigate if they are linked to other violent crime scene elsewhere in the province or around the country. Although police vehicle was riddled with bullet holes, no police officer was injured in the shootout. Ends
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