Umlazi, KwaZulu-Natal – A wanted suspect allegedly involved in armed robberies targeting schools and teachers on the KwaZulu-Natal South Coast was shot and killed by police in Umlazi.
Members of the South African Police Service Provincial Tracing Team located the man in N Section, Umlazi. Police found him hiding at the location during an operation based on intelligence and a warrant of arrest.
The suspect allegedly opened fire on the officers as he attempted to flee. A gunfight followed, and the man was fatally wounded. A firearm was recovered at the scene.
The suspect had been sought in connection with incidents of armed robbery affecting schools and educators in the KZN South Coast region. Reports indicated that schools and teachers in the area had become targets of such crimes. Some schools in the region were forced to close indefinitely due to safety concerns arising from these incidents.
The Provincial Tracing Team is a specialised SAPS unit responsible for locating and apprehending wanted suspects across KwaZulu-Natal. This operation formed part of ongoing police efforts to address violent crime, including robberies impacting educational institutions.
No official SAPS statement with the suspect’s name, age, or full list of charges has been issued in public reports available at this time. Police have not released further details on the exact prior incidents linked to the suspect.
This incident reflects continued police operations in KwaZulu-Natal aimed at apprehending individuals wanted for violent crimes, including those affecting community safety and schools. Firearm recovery during such operations contributes to removing weapons used in crime from circulation.
Authorities are expected to provide additional information as the post-incident investigation proceeds, including forensic processing and formal identification.
Local communities on the KZN South Coast had previously reported disruptions to schooling and increased security concerns for staff and learners due to repeated armed robbery attempts.
Source – Dasen Thathiah
OTHER NEWS
Clare Estate Armed Robbery Suspect Fatally Shot During Early-Morning Police Operation
Durban, KwaZulu-Natal – An armed robbery suspect was killed in a shootout with police in the Clare Estate area on Thursday, 7 May 2026.
Members of the Sydenham SAPS Trio Task Team were conducting a search for the suspect in the Palmiet Road informal settlement when they came under fire. The confrontation resulted in the suspect being fatally wounded.
The deceased, known only as “Mkhwanazi”, was wanted in connection with various armed robberies in the broader area and is believed to have been a local gang leader. One firearm was recovered at the scene.
Reports indicate that Mkhwanazi allegedly opened fire on the police team first, after which officers returned fire, leading to his death at the scene. No injuries to police officers were reported.
The Sydenham SAPS Trio Task Team specialises in tackling trio crimes, including house robberies, business robberies, and vehicle hijackings. This operation aligns with ongoing efforts to address violent crime in the Clare Estate and surrounding Durban communities, particularly in informal settlements where armed criminal activity has been prevalent.
Investigations into the incident are continuing, and authorities are expected to release further details, including confirmation of the suspect’s full identity and any additional links to other cases.
Source: Dasen Thathiah
Two SAPS Tactical Response Team Sergeants Killed in Single-Vehicle Crash
Two sergeants from the South African Police Service (SAPS) Tactical Response Team (TRT) died in a single-vehicle accident on the N4 highway near eMalahleni (Witbank), Mpumalanga, on Tuesday evening, 5 May 2026.
The officers were travelling in a state vehicle, reported as a BMW, en route to Pretoria to testify in court cases. The accident occurred just after 22:00. The vehicle overturned, crashed through barriers, hit a tree, and rolled towards the Olifants River, becoming wedged between bushes. One sergeant was ejected, while the other was trapped inside.
Both members were deployed to KwaZulu-Natal as part of the eManguzi Task Team, assisting operations against cross-border crimes in the Manguzi area near the Mozambique border. They were attached to units including Thembisa TRT and Pretoria Central TRT.
The SAPS has not yet released the names of the deceased, pending notification of their families.
Acting National Commissioner Lieutenant General Puleng Dimpane extended condolences to the families, friends, and colleagues. “The loss of these dedicated officers is a devastating blow to the organisation. They served the country with commitment and courage,” she said.
The SAPS Employee Health and Wellness unit has been deployed to support the affected families and colleagues in the eManguzi Task Team.
Recovery operations at the scene lasted approximately eight hours due to the vehicle’s position and ongoing rain, with assistance from Van Wettens Recovery.
Police spokesperson Warrant Officer David Ratau confirmed that investigations into the cause of the crash are ongoing. No further details regarding passengers, mechanical issues, or other factors have been released.
Three ATM Bombing Suspects Fatally Shot in Police Shootout in Mahikeng, North West
On 6 May 2026, three suspects were fatally wounded during a shootout with members of the South African Police Service National Intervention Unit in Magogoe Village, Mahikeng, in the North West province. The confrontation followed an ATM bombing that occurred in the early hours of the same day in Dinokana, Zeerust.
The suspects were tracked from the Zeerust area to a safe house in Magogoe Village after an intelligence-driven operation. A shootout broke out when police cornered them at the location. Police returned fire in self-defence after being engaged by the suspects.
The Acting Provincial Commissioner of Police in the North West, Major General Dr Ryno Naidoo, confirmed that the operation involved tracking a group of approximately 10 to 12 suspects. Some were arrested en route, while others reached the safe house. Three suspects were fatally wounded in the exchange of gunfire.
Two suspects were arrested at the scene. One of the arrested individuals is a serving member of the South African Police Service. Authorities are investigating possible further involvement by other police officers. The arrested suspects face charges including ATM bombing, possession of explosives, and other related offences. They are expected to appear in court soon.
Major General Naidoo welcomed the swift action and coordination of the multidisciplinary teams. He strongly condemned the alleged involvement of a police officer, stating: “The actions of any member of the SAPS who engages in criminality are a betrayal of the oath to serve and protect. Such conduct will not be tolerated, and those found on the wrong side of the law will face the full might of the law.”
The operation brought together several units: National Intervention Unit members working on illicit mining operations in North West, Tactical Response Team Mahikeng, K9 units from Lichtenburg and Mahikeng, Mmabatho Visible Policing, Mmabatho Detectives, Local Criminal Record Centre, Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation, Criminal Record and Crime Scene Management, District Detective Coordination, Emergency and Medical Rescue Services, and Provincial Traffic.
At the active crime scene in Mahikeng, police recovered several firearms, an undisclosed amount of money, and explosives. Crime scene experts and pathology teams continued processing evidence.
Major General Naidoo noted that while ATM bombings are not as common in the North West as in some other provinces, police remain proactive. He referenced a recent arrest in the Klerksdorp area a month earlier, where a suspect was stopped before carrying out a planned ATM bombing. He emphasised the role of community information in preventing such crimes.
Police continue to track additional suspects linked to this incident. Investigations into the ATM bombing in Dinokana, Zeerust, the shootout, and the full syndicate are ongoing. No injuries to police officers were reported during the Mahikeng shootout.
