Police officers who were held hostage during a dramatic stand-off at a police station in Durban have been temporarily withdrawn from active duty to undergo psychological support and debriefing.
The incident unfolded at the Ntuzuma Police Station, where a suspect being processed for attempted murder allegedly overpowered an officer and seized a firearm. He then locked himself inside the holding cells and took several officers hostage.
KwaZulu-Natal police spokesperson Robert Netshiunda said the suspect used both the firearm and access to keys to secure the area. “Because he had the gun and the keys, he locked the main door of the cells and continued shooting while searching for officers who were hiding,” Netshiunda explained.
The tense stand-off lasted approximately 45 minutes, during which hostage negotiators were deployed in an effort to resolve the situation peacefully.
Police eventually managed to infiltrate the area where the suspect had positioned himself. He was subsequently shot dead.
Netshiunda confirmed that no officers were killed in the incident, although two sustained minor injuries during a physical struggle with the suspect. None of the injuries were caused by gunfire.
Authorities say affected officers will only return to duty once they have completed the necessary trauma counselling and are deemed fit for active service.