Suspected Scottsville gang were on police radar for murder, rape: Cele
Police Minister Bheki Cele says work to root out a syndicate of a gang terrorising the Plessislaer area is underway.
Cele rushed to Scottsville Tuesday night after seven suspects were killed in a shootout with police in the afternoon.
It's alleged the suspects had been hiding out in a house in the area.
Two of those killed were women, but it not yet clear what their involvement was.
SAPS spokesperson Thembeka Mbele says one of the suspects was an escaped prisoner.
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"We can confirm that one of them has been confirmed that he was one of those escapees that escaped from the truck that was jammed in April in Pietermaritzburg when the truck was en route to court. "
Speaking to the media at the scene, Cele said the gang had committed many crimes in the Plessislaer area.
He says the gang leader has been linked to several cases, including rape, murder and robbery in KZN.
