In a dramatic turn of events, police in Ngqeleni are actively pursuing a robbery and extortion suspect who escaped during a fierce shootout on the evening of October 11, 2024. This incident unfolded around 11:20 PM when officers from the Public Order Policing Unit received vital information about two individuals wreaking havoc in the Canzibe area, under Nyandeni Local Municipality.
Upon tracing the suspects to a local tavern, the situation escalated rapidly. As police approached, the suspects opened fire, resulting in a retaliatory exchange of gunfire. In the chaos, one of the suspects, a 35-year-old man, was fatally wounded while his accomplice managed to evade capture, disappearing into the night. Officers recovered a 9mm Norinco pistol along with ammunition from the scene, but fortunately, no police personnel sustained injuries.
With public safety at the forefront, an inquest docket and an attempted murder docket have been opened for further investigation. Provincial Commissioner Lieutenant General Nomthetheleli Mene condemned the rise of extortion and crime targeting local businesses, declaring, “Those involved must know that we will take firm action to bring them to justice.”
Mene urged community members to help combat this menace by reporting incidents through the Extortion hotline at 082 387 1561. As the search for the elusive suspect intensifies, the police remain steadfast in their mission to ensure the safety and security of every business and resident in the Eastern Cape.
