Five suspects were shot and fatally wounded in a shoot-out with police at Pump House Informal Settlement in Chatsworth during the early hours of Monday, 8 September.
Police acted on intelligence regarding the whereabouts of the suspects, who were wanted for murder, house robberies, extortion, and possession of unlicensed firearms, allegedly committed in Mpumalanga Township, Mariannhill, KwaNdengezi, and Umsunduzi.
Provincial police spokesperson Robert Netshiunda said: “Intelligence led the police to the suspects’ hideout spot in Chatsworth and when police announced their arrival, the suspects started spraying a hail of bullets towards police officers and a shoot-out ensued. During the shootout, five suspects were shot and fatally wounded. No police officer sustained any injury during the shoot-out.
“Three firearms, one of them a homemade gun, were found in the possession of the suspects. The suspects are believed to be between the ages of 17 and the early to mid-twenties.”
Chairperson of the Moorton Community Police Forum (CPF), Sham Dhanpaul, said: “Five known suspects were at the Moorton informal settlement terrorising people in the area. Someone tipped police officials while one of the suspects’ phones was being tracked. When officials opened the door of the home, which is situated deep inside the informal settlement, the suspects opened gunfire.
“The Moorton CPF members who were at the scene are always at the forefront to serve our community. We are active in our community and met with the leadership of the informal settlement, who are against suspects coming into the area and robbing and terrorising residents. They do not want an image to be portrayed that they are hiding thugs in the settlement. They were glad that action was taken.”
Amawele Emergency Services was called to the informal settlement at around 5am on Monday.
Spokesperson Claude Subramodey said: “It is alleged that five suspects were found hiding in an informal home when an exchange of gunfire ensued between police officers and the suspects. The five suspects, ranging from teenagers to mid-twenties, were assessed and showed no signs of life. Sadly, there was nothing paramedics could do for them and they were declared deceased at the scene.”
Resident Mashaba Mthalane, who was in the area when the incident occurred, said: “It was like a scene from one of the action movies we watch. We are grateful to the police for ridding these criminals from our community. I was not a victim of their crimes but I have heard from others who were accosted by them. Well done SAPS Chatsworth, we are glad that no officers were injured, we salute them.”
