Nine suspected criminals were shot dead during a gun battle with police at Desai in Mariannhill in the early hours of Wednesday.
KwaZulu-Natal police spokesperson, Colonel Robert Netshiunda, said police officers who are members of the KZN Provincial Stabilization Team were acting on information on the whereabouts of a group of eleven suspects who have been terrorising the residence of Mariannhill and the surrounding areas.
He said the area had become a no-go area for residents.
The suspects were also sought in connection with a case of rape where they allegedly gang-raped a girl and made her mother watch the ordeal during a house robbery.
“They were also on police’s radar for serious and violent crimes in the area. When police caught up with them, intelligence had uncovered that the suspects were plotting to execute a hit on someone.”
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Netshiunda said although the police had initially knocked on the wrong house, they were still able to retaliate and neutralise the threat when the suspects started shooting at them.
He said nine suspects were killed during the shootout and no police members were injured.
“Three firearms have so far been found in possession of the suspects and a search is still ongoing. A manhunt for the outstanding two suspects is underway,” said Netshiunda.
