Durban — A 30-year-old man arrested by the Hawks is expected to apply for bail next month after police say he fired at a patrol vehicle in Cato Manor, wounding two men who had been detained in the police van.
Arrest following confrontation near Bonela
The Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation in Durban (commonly known as the Hawks) arrested Siphesihle Vezi, 30, at his workplace in Isipingo on 3 September, police said. He has been charged with attempted murder of police and two civilians and is due to appear in the Durban Magistrates' Court on 14 September 2026 to apply for bail.
Provincial police reported the events began on 24 August, when officers found a silver Toyota Etios parked at the Bonela sports field. Two men were in the vehicle; police said one was in possession of an AK-47 and live ammunition. The suspects were arrested and placed in the rear of a police vehicle.
"While police were driving on Dunbar Road towards the police station, they were followed by two vehicles... The occupants of the two vehicles fired shots towards the police and injured the two arrested suspects," said Lieutenant Colonel Simphiwe Mhlongo.
Police reported that the two following vehicles were a white Toyota Double Cab and a white Toyota Corolla Cross. The officers escaped without physical injury, but the police vehicle was struck by numerous bullets.
Two detained men taken to hospital
The two men who had been in the Etios were seriously enough hurt to be taken to hospital for treatment. One, Makhosonke Zungu, 60, has been charged with possession of an unlicensed firearm and is due in the Durban Magistrate's Court on 28 September 2026. The second detainee was released without charge.
Police said a preliminary probe suggests the injured men had planned to meet with the occupants of the two following vehicles to organise a cash-in-transit robbery. The driver of the Double Cab was identified as Vezi.
Hawks welcome arrest amid concerns over attacks on officers
The KwaZulu-Natal acting DPCI provincial head, Brigadier Zenobia Mulligan, welcomed the arrest and the role of the Hawks in effecting it. The incident comes as the province grapples with violence against police officers — official crime statistics for April to June 2026 showed 17 police officers lost their lives, six of them while on duty.
- Date of initial police contact: 24 August 2026
- Arrest of Vezi: 3 September 2026 (Isipingo)
- Bail hearing for Vezi: 14 September 2026 (Durban Magistrates' Court)
- Court appearance for Zungu: 28 September 2026
Local context and public safety
Shootings that target police vehicles have heightened public concern in Durban neighbourhoods such as Cato Manor and Isipingo, where violent crime and organised robbery syndicates have been a persistent problem. Incidents that injure suspects while in police custody raise questions about coordination, civilian risk and the tactics used by organised groups when confronting law enforcement.
Residents and commuters in the area face disruption when high-risk police operations unfold or when heavily armed suspects are intercepted. Police have not reported any injuries to members of the public in this incident beyond the two arrested men who were hospitalised.
What to expect at the next court dates
At the Durban Magistrates' Court on 14 September, the docket indicates Vezi will make a bail application in relation to the attempted murder charges. Zungu’s matter will be heard separately on 28 September on the possession charge. The second man found in the Etios was not charged and was released.
Further details about motive and the wider network allegedly involved are expected to emerge as the Hawks continue their investigation.
Contact details for the provincial DPCI were provided in police statements for members of the public with information relevant to the probe.
