Police shoot dead sixth suspect in ambush killing of two crime intelligence officers
A Special Task Force officer was wounded in the hand during a three-hour standoff in Inanda as five other suspects were arrested across KwaZulu-Natal.
A suspect wanted for the killing of two Crime Intelligence officers was shot and fatally wounded in a shootout with police at Emaplasini in Inanda, and five of his accomplices were arrested during an operation across KwaZulu-Natal on Friday morning, 25 September 2026.
Captain Louis Nel and Sergeant Mandla Khuzwayo were ambushed in Mount Edgecombe in April 2026. A prosecutorial guided investigation was launched soon after. In the early hours of Friday morning, an intelligence led multidisciplinary operation was conducted, according to the South African Police Service.
Five suspects were arrested in Pinetown, Amanzimtoti, Mandeni and Newlands West. The sixth suspect refused to obey police instructions and fired from inside a house for about three hours. Negotiations continued until he released his girlfriend, who was inside the house. He was eventually shot and fatally wounded during the operation.
A Special Task Force officer was shot in the hand and is in good spirits after receiving first aid medical attention.
The arrested suspects are being processed and are likely to appear in court on Monday, 28 September 2026.
This report is based on the South African Police Service media statement from the Office of the Provincial Commissioner KwaZulu-Natal. The statement is a summary of the operation rather than the full investigative record.
Source: South African Police Service, One suspect fatally wounded and five arrested for killing two Crime Intelligence officers
