Four suspected robbers, murderers, and extortionists were fatally shot during a police operation on Dumisani Makhaye Drive, Ethekwini, on 20 March 2025.
KZN SAPS statement on Dumisani Makhaye Drive shootout
According to a SAPS statement, police intercepted the suspects’ vehicle on Lark Road, where they reportedly opened fire on officers, leading to a shootout.
Three suspects were killed at the scene, while a fourth suspect was found nearby, having succumbed to gunshot wounds while attempting to flee.
Police recovered three firearms, and no officers were injured during the incident.
Authorities have confirmed that the suspects were wanted for multiple murders, robberies, and extortion cases in the Ethekwini District. A profiling process is underway to determine if they are connected to other crimes.
This is the latest in a series of fatal police shootouts in KwaZulu-Natal this year.
On 4 March, a murder suspect in Umlazi was killed in a similar operation after allegedly opening fire on officers. A week earlier, on 27 February, three suspects were shot dead in Msinga when police acted on intelligence regarding illegal firearms.
KwaZulu-Natal police spokesperson Colonel Robert Netshiunda has defended the officers’ actions, stating that they acted swiftly to neutralise threats and ensure officer safety.
IPID silent on inquests into KZN SAPS shootouts
Despite the increasing number of police shootouts in KwaZulu-Natal, the Independent Police Investigative Directorate (IPID) has remained silent on whether it is actively investigating these cases.
IPID is mandated to review all police-related deaths and determine if the use of lethal force was justified. However, requests for updates on past shootout inquests have gone unanswered.
Swisher Post has previously reached out to IPID for clarification on its investigations into police shootings, but no response has been received.
Instead, the watchdog has recently confirmed that it is investigating KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Commissioner Lieutenant-General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi over allegations of interfering in a separate case.
IPID’s inquiry into Mkhwanazi is linked to a 2023 incident in Richards Bay, where he is accused of obstructing the arrest of a senior correctional services official.
While IPID has confirmed that an investigation is ongoing, it has not provided updates on any of the fatal SAPS shootouts in the province.