Dual Shootouts: Suspects Killed in KZN, Toddler Clings to Life in Johannesburg

In a dramatic escalation of police operations in KwaZulu-Natal, two men wanted for a recent double murder were killed in a fierce shootout with officers in Inanda on Wednesday, 7 January 2027. The fatal confrontation comes just hours after a separate, tragic shooting in Johannesburg left a two-year-old boy fighting for his life.

According to KZN police spokesperson Colonel Robert Netshiunda, the two deceased suspects were being hunted in connection with a shooting in Ezimangweni, Inanda, on Tuesday night that left two people dead and one injured. Five other suspects had already been arrested for that murder, found with one firearm and a replica gun.

“They Opened Fire”: The Amaoti Confrontation

Acting on intelligence, police tracked the two remaining suspects to a residence in Amaoti. Upon arrival, they were met with gunfire. “The suspects opened fire towards police officers, and police retaliated,” Netshiunda stated. Both suspects were fatally wounded in the exchange. Police recovered two firearms at the scene and confirmed the men were known for terrorising areas including Amaoti, Phoenix, and Mzomusha.

This incident marks the second major police shootout in Inanda within days, following another operation on Thursday where five suspects were killed.

A Toddler Caught in the Crossfire

In a heartbreaking parallel incident in Fordsburg, Johannesburg, a two-year-old boy is in a critical condition after a suspected hit on his father. The 38-year-old man was shot dead by unknown assailants on the corner of Gillie and Mint Streets on Tuesday while carrying his son. The child sustained a gunshot wound.

Police spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Mavela Masondo said the Provincial Tracing Team is hunting two suspects who fled in a dark-coloured Mazda 2. A case of murder and attempted murder is under investigation.

These back-to-back tragedies underscore the brutal reality of violent crime in South Africa. In KZN, police are taking a hard-line, tactical approach against armed groups, while in Gauteng, innocent children are becoming collateral damage in targeted attacks. For authorities, the challenges are multifaceted: dismantling violent networks while protecting the most vulnerable from the crossfire.

{Source: Citizen}

Follow Joburg ETC on Facebook, Twitter , TikTok and Instagram

For more News in Johannesburg, visit joburgetc.com