KWAZULU-NATAL - The Police Ministry has followed closely the events that unfolded in Umbumbulu, outside Durban, where an armed gang member fleeing police, held an elderly woman with two children hostage for several hours.

It is alleged that the hostage situation stemmed from a business robbery that occurred on Tuesday morning, 01 February 2022 at Cato Ridge, where five men robbed the staff of a cellphone shop at gunpoint.

The gang stole a large number of cellphones before fleeing the scene in a getaway vehicle towards Umbumbulu, later making their way on foot after losing control and crashing their getaway vehicle.

Police officers from the K9 Unit and Special Task Force also joined the chase, in pursuit of the suspects who ran into the bushes. While one suspect was arrested, another armed suspect fled into a nearby house and held the occupants, an elderly woman and her two young grandchildren hostage.

After a lengthy standoff, hostage negotiators managed to get the pensioner and her grandchildren released unharmed. The suspect was disarmed and arrested.

Police Minister, General Bheki Cele, has commended the various police units involved in the police operation.

“It is through the collaboration between private security personnel and police that these criminals were tracked down, soon after committing the first crime. It is thanks to the expertise of the Special Task Force, K9 Units and the police hostage negotiators that innocent lives were sparred. It’s commendable that these officers were able to handle such a delicate situation with the care and agility it demanded,” Cele concluded.

Police investigations continue and the remaining suspects are being sought

Source: South African Police Service