Scottsville community ‘shocked, shaken’ after deadly gun battle
A ward councillor in Scottsville in Pietermaritzburg says the community has been left shaken after learning that a gang, believed to be behind the surge in crimes in and around the area, has been living among them.
"The community in Scottsville are quite shaken up, they are all still in shock. This is the middle of a family suburb. Fairfield Road has always been a quiet road. This type of thing comes as a shock to the people that live there," says DA Ward Councillor Suraya Reddy.
READ: PMB SHOOTOUT: Seven suspects including escaped prisoners killed
She spoke to Newswatch after seven suspects were killed during a shootout with police in the area on Tuesday.
Police pounced on a luxury home after receiving intelligence about a gang believed to have been responsible for a reign of terror in Plessislaer.
READ: PMB prison break mastermind killed in Scottsville: Police
Reddy says the community is living in fear.
"For them to have had gangsters living next door when they weren't even aware of it, I think the way it was done and conducted where you have a house of people who look like they are well off with nice cars on the property and they do everything that a normal neighbour would do so it will come as a surprise that we had a gang staying there."
READ: More details emerge of PMB gun battle, as Cele reveals identity of mastermind behind prison escape
