Lt-Gen Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi Praised After 3 Dead in KwaZulu-Natal During Fatal Shootout With SAPS

• Three suspects accused of murder in KwaZulu-Natal were killed during a shootout with the men and women in blue
• The shootout happened in Inanda in Durban and two of the suspects evaded arrest
• The suspects were allegedly responsible for murdering two police officers and attempting to murder four tavern patrons in January this year

Tebogo Mokwena, a Briefly News current affairs journalist in Johannesburg, South Africa, covered criminal activities, police investigations, police shootouts and court cases at Daily Sun for over three years.

INANDA, KWAZULU-NATAL — Three people were killed during a shootout with the South African Police Service in Inanda in KwaZulu-Natal on 8 February 2025. South Africans lauded the province's commissioner Lieutenant-General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi for tackling crime.

What happened in Inanda?

According to TimesLIVE, the suspects were cornered inside a house and when they realised the police were outside, they opened fire. The men and women in blue returned fire and a shootout ensued. The three suspects were gunned down and their firearms were reover3d.

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The suspects reportedly murdered four people including two off-duty police officers and attempted to murder four people at a tavern in Sundumbili. The police are also looking for two other suspects who evaded arrest and are on the run.

Similar shootouts that became fatal

• Eight suspects were killed in a shootout with the police in Richards Bay in December 2024 after they were planning to rob a spaza shop
• One suspect was killed and 19 were arrested after a mass shooting at the Nyanga Taxi Rank in the Western Cape in January 2025
• The police in KwaZulu-Natal shot and killed a 22-year-old gang leader wanted for more than 10 murders in Verulam

South Africans react

Netizens commenting on TimesLIVE's Facebook page praised Lieutenant-General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi for contributing to the fight against crime.

Matthews Tshego Tshabalala said:

"KZN police are working hard. Big up to them and Gen. Mkhwanazi."

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Andile Ncama said:

"We need the NIU full-time in Inanda to deal with these young boys."

Danny Morero said:

"Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi, give other provinces your remedy on how to deal with criminals.

Tsheption Makoloi said:

"Mkhwanazi does not tolerate rubbish."

Javaz Mnisi said:

"General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi is doing a great job, far better than the police minister."

Zama zamas shot and killed during shootout with SAPS

In a related article, Briefly News reported that three zama zamas were fatally wounded during a shootout with the police in November 2024. The cops were patrolling the area when they spotted the illegal miners.

The miners opened fire and the police returned fire. A shootout ensued and the police fatally wounded three miners. One police officer was wounded during the shootout.

Source: Briefly News