Residents of Montclair were left traumatised after a deadly shootout between police and armed suspects unfolded just metres from a primary school on Friday afternoon.
Four suspects were killed and several others injured during the violent confrontation at a property in the Woodlands area. Police have confirmed that the group was wanted in connection with a series of business robberies across eThekwini, including a recent robbery at a jewellery store in Tongaat last Thursday.
Community Policing Forum (CPF) representative Hazel Francis said such an incident was unprecedented in the neighbourhood.
“Fortunately for us, it happened after the learners had already left. The primary school is situated next door to the crime scene. Residents were extremely shocked and fearful because this has never happened in the area before,” Francis said.
It is believed the suspects may have been renting the property where the shootout occurred. Francis added that property owners would now be encouraged to more thoroughly screen prospective tenants.
“We will ensure that owners seriously vet who their properties are being rented out to, especially since this was a rental property,” she said.
Police are continuing investigations into the incident, while residents have called for heightened security in the area.