Police on alert following message of planned mass hijackings in PMB

Following intelligence received officers swooped on a luxury 5 bedroom home where a well-known crime boss was said to be along with a recently escaped prisoner sparking a shootout between them and the criminals. 

7 of the suspects were shot and killed by police who also recovered a number of firearms including AK-47s and a stolen vehicle. 

KZN SAPS Thembeka Mbhele says they've been made aware of information indicating that a funeral for one of the killed suspects will take place over this weekend and since he was linked to a vehicle hijacking mass hijackings of that particular model would be taking place ahead of his funeral. 

She says these would be burned during the suspect's funeral.

"I want to confirm that officers have been deployed in the area to curb all related incidents and criminals should no we will leave no stone unturned in protecting the lives and properties of our citizens", she said. 

In the event that any vehicles have been stolen or hijacked in the Pietermaritzburg area  Mbhele is urging those affected to urgently report the cases.

"We advise members of the community whose vehicles have gone missing to immediately report this to their nearest police station", Mbhele said. 

"As police we have been on the ground since Tuesday and we will do so till the end of this weekend", she said.