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Kwazulu Natal police said eight suspects were fatally wounded following a shootout with law enforcement near Richards Bay.
Colonel Robert Netshiunda said they received a tip-off that the suspects were on their way to rob a foreign-owned spaza shop in Esikhawini.
He said they followed up on the information and spotted the suspects driving on the John Ross Highway towards Richards Bay.
Netshiunda said the driver ignored the police's instructions to stop and sped off, leading to a high-speed chase with the suspects firing at the pursuing police.
He said police returned fired, fatally wounding all eight suspects, who he said were also linked to a cash-in-transit robbery in the Mzingazi area.
Three firearms, two replica guns and house breaking implements were found in the vehicle.
Netshiunda said Friday morning's incident brings to ten, the number of criminal suspects who were killed in gun battles with the police this week.
“On Wednesday, one suspect was shot and fatally wounded in shootout with police at F Section in Umlazi.
“On Thursday, another suspect was shot and fatally wounded during an altercation with police and two more were arrested at F Section in KwaMashu," he added.
