On Wednesday, 14 January 2026, members of the Tactical Response Team engaged in a fatal shooting with a suspect following a vehicle pursuit in the Tombo Administrative Area.
The team, acting on information about a person with a firearm, located the suspect’s vehicle on the R61 towards Mthatha at approximately 19:15. After attempts to stop the vehicle failed, police blocked it.
The 42-year-old suspect exited his vehicle and fired shots at the police vehicle, which contained a driver. Officers commanded him to stop before returning fire. The suspect was fatally wounded.
No police officers were injured, but their vehicle sustained a bullet hole. Police seized an unlicensed revolver, a magazine, and ammunition from the scene.
The Independent Police Investigative Directorate (IPID) has been informed and will investigate.