Security guards, a cleaner, and a bystander were stabbed by fleeing suspects at the Phoenix Plaza on Tuesday afternoon.

It is reported that private security company KZN VIP was alerted by several shop owners to a mass stabbing, requesting medical and security assistance.

KZN VIP, the police, and several other security companies responded to the emergency. While the medics were busy treating two of the patients, the other two, who were security guards, were rushed to the hospital by private transportation.

According to KZN VIP, two security guards were escorting the suspicious men out of the plaza when they were stabbed. Two other people that tried to assist the injured security guards were also stabbed.

KZN VIP said an all-points bulletin (APB) was broadcast.

One of its response unit members noticed the suspects running up JG Champion (Northern) Drive and called for backup. He saw the suspects jump into a vehicle.

KZN VIP said it was later revealed that the driver of the vehicle was an older brother of the suspects.

The suspects’ escape vehicle was stopped by the security company, and they were all taken to Phoenix police station and detained.

The suspects apparently started making racial allegations against a certain security officer, hoping that the police would sympathize and free them.

It is reported that bolt cutters and other tools used during house break-ins were found hidden under the seats of the vehicle the suspects arrived at the Plaza in.

Police spokesperson Constable Thenjiswa Ngcobo said that on Tuesday, the Phoenix SAPS arrested three suspects between the ages of 21 and 25 charged with stabbing and assault with intent to cause grievous bodily harm (GBH).

“The suspects will appear in the Verulam Magistrate’s Court soon. It is alleged that the suspects assaulted and stabbed a 41-year-old man on December 20 at the Phoenix Plaza,” Ngcobo said.

Speaking to Independent Media about the stabbings, Phoenix Community Policing Forum spokesperson Dinesh Pillay said: “Unfortunately, I can’t comment on the incident because it occurred while I was out of town. This matter is now with the police.”

A 13-year-old girl was found by her mother naked in a room, where it is believed that’s where she had been kept prior to her kidnapping. She was kept there overnight and allegedly raped three times by a 21-year-old man who had kidnapped her at gunpoint.

8-year-old came forward with information and told the victim`s mother she had seen the accused grab and pull the victim into his room, said the case investigating officer Sergeant Sibonelo Lucas Mzila.

According to Mzila, the state was still trying to locate the 8-year-old as a state witness.

The detective said evidence was that the teen had been sent by her mother to a tuckshop to get fruit.

“On her way back she was approached by the accused who proposed love to her and when she refused he grabbed her and produced a firearm pointing it at her and took her to his room.”

As the investigation was ongoing more information came to light, the accused allegedly raped the girl twice using a condom, and the following day he did so without a condom. He also allegedly assaulted the teen with a pipe on her body for not wanting to go with him to Inanda, where he lives.

Mzila also produced evidence that the accused had been with his brother at the time of the alleged kidnapping. However, the brother had not been charged as he could not be linked to the crime.

“The accused is a flight risk and it is highly likely that he will evade trial. The community found the kidnapped girl in his room. He and his brother ran away as the community was looking for him, and the community phoned the police.”

Mzila said that following the accused’s arrest, when the community saw his brother in the area they were in “high spirits”, wanting to take the law into their own hands.

“We had to explain to the community why his brother was not charged, the community warned that if the applicant is released his life would be in danger. What community will open its arms and accept a person facing such a charge? If he relocates, how will neighbors who have 13-year-old children feel?” Mzila asked the court.

In seeking bail, Legal Aid attorney PM Dlamini told the court that the accused pleaded not guilty, was unemployed, had no children, and lived with his mother who he supported through piece jobs in construction.

Allegations of infidelity led to a 65-year-old man’s suicide during a hostage situation that lasted nearly six (6) hours on Jacaranda Avenue in Mountview

Read Also: One shot and three held hostage in Mountview

Residents contacted Reaction Unit South Africa (RUSA)at approximately 12:46 requesting assistance after a 65-year-old man entered a relative’s residence near his home and held a 68-year-old woman, her 38-year-old daughter, and 18 & 12-year-old grandson hostage. On arrival, Reaction Officers learned that the gunman had shot the 18-year-old.

Officers surrounded the house and negotiated the release of the injured teenager. The man complied and allowed the male to exit the house. He was shot on his left hand. He was treated for a gunshot wound by RUSA Paramedics at a safe location while the area remained locked down.

According to the hostage taker, he suspected his wife of having an extramarital affair. He believed that the 38-year-old female hostage had knowledge of the relationship and was in support of the affair. The unemployed truck driver requested that his wife be transported to the scene and allowed to enter the home.

His request was denied by Law Enforcement as it was believed that he intended on shooting her. It has been confirmed that the suspect does not own a licensed firearm. A hostage negotiator from the South African Police Service attempted to de-escalate the situation while members of the SAPS Special Task Force (STF) took up tactical positions around the home.

At approximately 18:12, SAPS Officials breached the front door. The body of the suspect was located in a bedroom. He sustained a self-inflicted gunshot wound to his chest.

RUSA Medics examined the male who was declared deceased at 18:19. According to one of the victims, the suspect spoke to his wife telephonically before he proceeded into the bedroom. They heard a gunshot shortly thereafter.

The three hostages were traumatised. No further injuries were reported.

R3 Million worth of Furturelife was looted and a trailer set alight on Station Road in Canelands – KZN this morning (Tuesday).

Earlier this morning, a member of the Reaction Unit South Africa was on patrol as a normal routine, and he noticed the trailer on fire and drove to the scene. He went on and call for further assistance. Shortly after he called, the eThikwini Fire Department arrived on the scene and extinguished the blaze.

Further investigations were made to know what could have caused the fire and the Officer of the Reaction Unity confirmed that there was looting activity and the truck was loaded with Futurelife which was destined for a distribution center.

With investigations that were carried out, it came to light that the whole incident could have been caused due to the relationship between the driver and his employer. Residents were interviewed and one individual stated that the driver was seen consuming alcohol in the informal area.

The driver allegedly advised the residents that he was despondent towards his employer who is a sub-contractor for a logistics company. He then allegedly unhinged the trailer and drove off in the truck. Residents then looted the goods before setting the trailer alight.

A second individual stated that the driver accidentally turned into the wrong road where he was confronted by a group of males who threatened to shoot him if he did not unhitch the trailer. The man allegedly complied and drove off. Neither version could be verified.

While attending to the scene, information was received that the Volvo truck was on Ireland Street in the Verulam CBD. Reaction Officers converged on the area and recovered the truck abandoned outside a service station.

The driver could not be located and was unreachable on his cellphone.

Members of Reaction Unit South Africa (RUSA) are currently 12:46 standing off on Jacaranda Avenue in Mountview – KZN where one person has been shot and three others are being held hostage in their home.

Reaction Officers were dispatched to the residence after receiving reports of a shooting. On arrival, Officers were informed that an 18-year-old male was shot in his left arm by his 65-year-old uncle. The teenager’s 68-year-old grandmother, a 38-year-old mother, and 12-year-old brother were in the house at the time of the incident.

Read Also: Durban prosecutor nabbed for allegedly freeing foreigners arrested for serious crimes

The suspect is armed with a pistol. He released the injured teenager after Officers negotiated his release. He is holding the rest of the family hostage.

The motive behind the incident has not been established.

This is a developing story

A Durban prosecutor has been arrested for allegedly freeing foreigners involved in serious crimes by fraudulently charging them with lesser charges then allow them to pay admission of guilt fines before letting them go.

The prosecutor was able to get the accused persons off the hook with lesser charges by misleading his superiors about the facts of the cases.

Prosecutor Ntokozo Mzulwini, 33, based at the Durban Magistrate’s Court, was arrested at his place of employment last week.

He appeared before magistrate Ashwin Singh on December 9 and the State was led by prosecutor Calvin Govender, who did not oppose bail.

Singh set bail at R3 000 with conditions.

The State alleged that Mzulwini would arrange for the foreigners in question to pay admission of guilt fines by misrepresenting to his supervisor that the respective charges related to contraventions of the Refugees Act.

In so doing, the supervisor would be induced into authorising and signing off on admission of guilt fines, yet Mzulwini knew that the charges were contraventions of the Immigration Act, which does not allow for admission of guilt fines.

It has been alleged that on two occasions Mzulwini’s conduct was in breach of Section 3 of the Prevention and Combating of Corrupt Activities Act of 2004.

In those instances, Mzulwini, instead of pressing ahead with charges relating to housebreaking and being in possession of stolen goods, enabled the accused persons to get away with fines.

Read also: Accused in Umhlanga pier shooting granted bail

Mzulwini was also accused of withdrawing a drunk driving charge against an accused person when he was given instructions to proceed with the matter.

One of his superiors queried his handling of the said matters. It eventually led to his arrest and he has since been charged with fraud, defeating and obstructing justice and contravening the Prevention and Combating of Corrupt Activities Act.

One of Mzulwini’s bail conditions was that he did not communicate with State witnesses. The matter was adjourned to next month.