Two alleged hitmen were fatally wounded in a shootout with police in Maphumulo, KwaZulu-Natal, this morning.
Authorities had been investigating a plot to assassinate a police officer when they tracked the suspects to a rural hideout. As officers approached the homestead, the suspects opened fire, leading to an exchange of gunfire.
Police recovered a firearm at the scene and linked the suspects to a prior attempted murder of a law enforcement officer. No officers were injured in the operation.
The incident highlights ongoing tensions between police and criminal elements in the province. Investigations are continuing.