Maydon Wharf shootout: SAPS fatally wounds suspect wanted for murder

The South African Police Service (SAPS) in KwaZulu-Natal shot and killed a suspect following a shootout at Maydon Wharf on Monday.

According to a SAPS statement, the suspect was wanted for several serious offences, including murder and attempted murder, allegedly committed in Sawoti, in the Ugu District Municipality of the KZN, earlier this month.

Police revealed that the suspect was also linked to a case in Mbumbulu, where four people were brutally killed, and was wanted for alleged involvement in a cash-in-transit robbery that occurred in Umlazi on December 5.

The SAPS received intelligence indicating that the armed suspect was heading towards Durban’s central business district. The information was operationalised by their members and they worked in conjunction with metro police officers.

“The minibus taxi in which the suspect was travelling was spotted by police officers, but before they could intercept it, the vehicle drove towards the officers while shots were fired at them,” said Lieutenant Colonel Paul Magwaza.

Magwaza added that police returned fire in self-defence, fatally wounding the suspect.

“Two pistols were recovered at the scene. One firearm was found in the possession of the deceased suspect, while the other was recovered inside the minibus taxi,” he said.

SAPS has opened a case of attempted murder against the suspect, which has been registered at Maydon Wharf Police Station.

DAILY NEWS