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A failed assassination attempt in Osizweni, KwaZulu-Natal on Wednesday night, 16 November 2022, resulted in an armed robbery, a high-speed car chase, a shoot-out, and two politicians trying to save the day.
The incident unfolded at approximately 7:30 pm on Wednesday evening, at a supermarket situated in Blaauwbosch, Osizweni, after seven men pulled up at the Caltex Garage in a red Mazda 323.
At the time, the District Secretary for the IFP, Prince Ndabuko Zulu was speaking with the Dannhauser Municipality Mayor, Cllr Sibusiso Kunene.
Prince Zulu said the men then attempted to assassinate himself and the Dannhauser Mayor, before robbing two Ethiopian nationals, working at the nearby supermarket, of their Toyota Quantum.
“Shots were fired and during the failed assassination attempt, the two men who had been left in their vehicle robbed the shop owners while they (the shop staff) were standing outside,” explained Prince Zulu.
Following the incident, the two politicians all jumped into one of their vehicles, accompanied by their bodyguards, and gave chase. This, while notifying law enforcement of what had just unfolded.
Racing after the suspects, the men were mere kilometres from a mine in Dannhauser when the Dannhauser SAPS intercepted them. The assailants opened fire on the police before one of the suspects, driving the Mazda, jumped out of the vehicle, running into the dark.
While law enforcement officials attempted to chase after him, other police officers continued to pursue the suspects driving the Quantum. The perpetrators eventually stopped the vehicle near Nelly Valley Clinic in Dannhauser before fleeing on foot.
Osizweni SAPS spokesperson Captain Sipho Nkosi explained that the suspects are still at large. However, “Police investigations are underway,” he affirmed.
With bravery shown by the two councillors, Prince Zulu said that unfortunately one of his bodyguards sustained a minor injury.
He further claimed that while he could not prove it, he suspected the failed assassination attempt stemmed from a District Council meeting that collapsed after the IFP refused to reinstate a suspended municipal employee who was under investigation for corruption.
“We notified the police following the collapsed council meeting, telling them that something was wrong. A party wanted a suspended employee back, but the IFP refused to allow corruption within its municipalities and would not reinstate suspended employees until investigations were complete,” emphasised Prince Zulu.
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