In a dramatic shootout on the R103 near Mooi River on Monday, 4 November 2024, police officers fatally wounded four suspects believed to be linked to taxi-related murders across KwaZulu-Natal.
Story Summary:
- Four suspects linked to taxi-related murders were killed in a police shootout following a high-speed chase near Mooi River on Monday.
- Among the deceased was a most-wanted hitman involved in multiple high-profile taxi industry murders across KwaZulu-Natal.
- Police recovered two firearms, a rifle and a pistol, which will undergo ballistic testing to determine links to other crimes in the region.
One of the four suspects killed in Mooi River was a most-wanted ‘nkabi’
Acting on intelligence reports about the suspects’ whereabouts, police initiated a high-speed chase that culminated in an exchange of gunfire, ending with the deaths of all suspects involved.
According to police spokesperson Colonel Robert Netshiunda, the operation began after police intercepted the suspects’ vehicle on the N3 Highway.
When signalled to pull over, the driver instead accelerated and diverted onto the Hidcote turn-off, merging onto the R103 toward Estcourt.
During the pursuit, the suspects fired shots at the officers, who responded with gunfire to protect themselves and passing motorists.
“This was a highly coordinated effort to apprehend individuals involved in violent crimes affecting the taxi industry,” Col. Netshiunda explained.
Among the deceased suspects was a 40-year-old man identified as a most-wanted “nkabi,” a term in local parlance for a hired hitman.
Police confirm he was linked to high-profile murders within the taxi industry, including the Bergville shootings earlier in the year. His criminal record involved the fatal shootings of a taxi association chairperson and his deputy in Bergville, as well as a taxi owner at the Bergville taxi rank, where a stray bullet also injured a commuter.
Additionally, he was wanted for an attempted murder involving a taxi owner in Winterton this past June.
Police recovered two firearms from the scene—a rifle and a pistol—along with ammunition.
Both weapons will undergo ballistic testing to determine whether they match other crime scenes within the province or elsewhere in South Africa.
“The firearms and ammunition will be subjected to comprehensive analysis to investigate their potential links to unsolved cases involving taxi-related violence,” Netshiunda indicated.