Two suspected armed robbers were killed and a third was seriously injured during a shootout with police in KwaMsane, northern KwaZulu-Natal, in the early hours of Tuesday morning.
The dramatic confrontation unfolded shortly after midnight after police received a report from a robbery victim in the Hluhluwe policing area.
According to police, the victim alerted authorities after being robbed by a group of armed suspects. Officers subsequently launched an operation and tracked down the vehicle believed to have been used by the suspects.
When police attempted to intercept the vehicle, a gunfight reportedly broke out between officers and the suspects.
Two of the suspects were fatally wounded during the exchange of gunfire and were declared dead at the scene.
A third suspect was also found with serious injuries and was initially believed to have died. However, while forensic teams were processing the scene and taking photographs, the suspect unexpectedly regained consciousness.
Emergency personnel immediately transported him to hospital, where he remains under police guard.
Police recovered three firearms at the scene, which will form part of the ongoing investigation.
Authorities have launched a manhunt for at least three additional suspects believed to have fled following the shootout.
The circumstances surrounding the robbery and subsequent exchange of gunfire remain under investigation.