Police Strike First: Suspected Hitmen Killed in Deadly Shootout Before Cop Assassination Plot Unfolds

[image: Lieutenant General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi, source: Twitter ]

In the early hours of Friday morning, a deadly confrontation erupted in the rural outskirts of Maphumulo, KwaZulu-Natal, leaving two suspected hitmen dead—and a looming assassination plot on a high-ranking SAPS officer shattered before it could take form.

Police sources confirmed that the men, believed to be involved in a targeted plot to kill a South African Police Service member, were tracked to a remote homestead following intensive intelligence work. Officers moved swiftly, knowing that any delay could cost one of their own his life.

As the tactical team approached the location, the suspects allegedly opened fire without warning, forcing officers to retaliate. The shootout was intense but brief. When the gunfire stopped, the two suspects were dead, and a firearm was recovered at the scene.

The police operation was precise—and perhaps just in time. Not only were the suspects allegedly plotting the targeted killing of a SAPS member, but they have now also been linked to a previous attempted murder of another officer. Their violent track record paints a picture of men deeply embedded in organised criminal activity.

For the police, this wasn’t just a win—it was a prevented tragedy. The absence of casualties among officers marks a rare and fortunate outcome in a region where policing often walks hand-in-hand with high risk.

Local residents were woken by the gunshots and say the area has been shaken by rising gang-related violence in recent months. The shootout has only intensified concerns about the growing boldness of criminals willing to take on law enforcement directly.

Though investigations are ongoing, the police have reassured the public that they remain vigilant, particularly where threats to SAPS members are concerned. With the firearm recovered undergoing ballistic analysis, more arrests or connections could follow.

This morning’s events highlight the daily danger officers face, especially in volatile rural zones, and the lengths SAPS will go to protect their own.

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Read also: Pretoria marches demand President Ramaphosa’s resignation amid national unrest – Mandela Day protests turn symbolic and bold. Stay up to date only at Daily South African Pulse

From my view, this incident isn't just a shootout—it's a reflection of how deeply crime and corruption have embedded themselves, even in the quietest corners of our provinces. It also reminds us how vital real-time intelligence is in staying one step ahead.

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Tags: #KZNshootout #MaphumuloHitmen #PoliceAssassinationPlot #SAPS #DailyPulseCrimeWatch #OrganisedCrimeSA #ShootoutInKZN #BreakingNewsSouthAfrica

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