DURBAN – Police have arrested six suspects aged between 40 and 42 for attempted murder, attempted robbery, impersonating a police officer and possession of unlicensed firearms and ammunition. They will appear tomorrow in the Kokstad Magistrate’s Court.

The complainant alleged that he and his wife were at their farm on Tuesday, 14 February when they were accosted by armed men who attempted to rob them of the belongings. He managed to call for help and the suspects fled the scene in their gateway vehicle. The police together with other law enforcement agencies followed up on information which led the arrest of the suspects in different areas.

When the suspects spotted police and security guard vehicles approaching they opened fire and a shootout ensued. They drove in different directions, others heading to Kokstad and Harding areas but were apprehended. Three vehicles were searched and a police reflector jackets, 58 rounds of ammunition and four unlicensed firearms including two rifles and two pistol were recovered. Two of the recovered firearms belong to the complainant. No one was injured during the shooting

Preliminary police investigations have confirmed that the suspects are same suspects who posed as police officers and robbed the same family on Tuesday, 7 February 2023. They accosted them, demanded cash, and took two firearms and drove away in their gateway vehicle. A case of robbery was opened at Franklin police station for investigation.

The firearms will be taken for ballistic testing to ascertain if they were not used in commission of a crime.

Source: South African Police Service