Southridge, KwaZulu-Natal – On Tuesday, 14 July 2026, a 28-year-old man was shot in the right leg following an alleged confrontation with a 65-year-old pensioner at a residential property on Adams Road in Southridge.
Reaction Unit South Africa (RUSA) Operations Centre received a call for assistance at approximately 09:36. Upon arrival, officers interviewed the homeowner, who described confronting a suspected intruder inside his yard. The pensioner stated that he produced his licensed 9mm pistol in an attempt to apprehend the suspect.
According to the homeowner’s account, the suspect then produced a knife, leading to a physical scuffle. During the confrontation, a single shot was discharged, striking the 28-year-old in his right leg. The injured man reportedly dropped the knife and fled the property.
RUSA officers conducted a search of the surrounding area and located the injured suspect approximately 150 metres away on Primrose Drive in Southridge. He was found bleeding from the gunshot wound to his right leg. Medical personnel stabilised him at the scene, after which he was transported to hospital by ambulance.
The pensioner further reported that the same individual had visited the property the previous day, Monday, 13 July 2026, requesting water for two empty five-litre plastic containers. The homeowner provided the water, but now believes the visit may have been an opportunity to scout the premises ahead of the Tuesday incident.
In a subsequent interview conducted by RUSA officers and captured on body camera footage, the injured suspect admitted to being a drug user. He also claimed to have previously sustained two gunshot wounds during a police operation in Umhlali, KwaZulu-Natal, in 2025. According to his statement, he was struck by crossfire while officers were searching for another individual.
No further details regarding charges or the ongoing police investigation have been released at this time. The incident remains under investigation.
Crime scene and response photographs circulated by RUSA show Reaction Unit officers, including medics, attending to the injured man on a roadside verge, as well as an image of a 9mm pistol consistent with the type described by the homeowner.
This event highlights ongoing concerns regarding property crime and homeowner responses in residential areas of KwaZulu-Natal. Authorities encourage residents to remain vigilant while emphasising the importance of immediate reporting of suspicious activity to professional response units.
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