2 Suspects Killed in Police Shootout at Kennedy Road Informal Settlement
Durban, KwaZulu-Natal — Two suspected criminals were shot and killed during a gunfight with police in the Kennedy Road informal settlement in the early hours of Friday morning, in what authorities describe as a targeted operation against violent robbery syndicates.
According to South African Police Service (SAPS), members of the Sydenham Trio Task Team had been actively searching for the suspects in connection with a string of serious crimes across Durban and surrounding areas. These include house robberies, business robberies, and cases of extortion that have left several communities on edge.
Durban Kennedy Road Shootout Sparks Police Crackdown
Police intelligence led officers to a shack within the Kennedy Road informal settlement, where the suspects were believed to be hiding. When officers approached the structure, a shootout reportedly broke out between the suspects and police.
Both suspects were fatally wounded during the exchange.
Authorities confirmed that two firearms were recovered at the scene. The weapons will undergo ballistic testing as part of ongoing investigations, which aim to link the suspects to multiple violent incidents.
Preliminary reports also suggest that the suspects were linked to a series of armed robberies along the N2 highway. In these incidents, motorists were allegedly targeted while stranded during vehicle breakdowns, a growing concern for road users in KwaZulu-Natal.
The operation forms part of broader efforts by SAPS to clamp down on organized crime and restore public safety in high-risk areas.
Police have not yet released the identities of the deceased, pending further investigation and notification of next of kin.
Investigations remain ongoing.
