Three men have been shot dead during a confrontation with members of the Mthatha Tactical Response Team (TRT) in Ngqeleni, after police allegedly linked them to the collection of money from local shops.
The incident happened on Monday when TRT members from Mthatha were acting on information about three alleged extortionists. According to Eastern Cape police spokesperson Brigadier Nobuntu Gantana, the officers were travelling on a gravel road when they encountered men who matched the description they had received.
Police say suspects opened fire
Gantana said the TRT members stopped their vehicle and approached the three men. Police allege that the suspects then opened fire, prompting the officers to return fire. All three men were shot dead during the exchange.
The account places the Mthatha-based unit at the centre of the operation, but the source information does not identify the deceased or provide details about the shops allegedly targeted. Their identities had not been established at the time of the report, leaving the formal identification process outstanding.
“Three pistols with their serial numbers filed off were recovered at the scene,” police spokesperson Brigadier Nobuntu Gantana said.
Weapons recovered at scene
Police said three pistols were recovered after the shooting. Each weapon reportedly had its serial number filed off. The removal of serial numbers is significant for the investigation because it can make it more difficult to trace a firearm’s origin and ownership. No further information was provided about the weapons, ammunition or whether the firearms had been linked to previous crimes.
The alleged extortion connection remains an allegation at this stage. Police said the TRT had received information that the men were taking money from local shops, but the report does not specify how many businesses were involved, how much money was allegedly demanded or whether any shop owners had made formal complaints.
IPID called in after police action
The Independent Police Investigative Directorate (IPID) was summoned to the scene. This is the standard process when people die as a result of police action, and the directorate’s involvement is intended to ensure that the circumstances surrounding the shooting are independently examined.
IPID’s presence does not, by itself, establish wrongdoing by the officers or confirm the police version of events. The investigation will have to consider what happened before the exchange of gunfire, whether the suspects discharged the weapons recovered at the scene and whether the police response complied with the law. The available report does not provide details about the officers involved, whether any police members were injured or whether additional witnesses had been identified.
What is known about the incident
| Item | Reported detail |
|---|---|
| Location | Ngqeleni |
| Police unit | Mthatha Tactical Response Team |
| Deaths | Three alleged suspects |
| Weapons recovered | Three pistols with filed-off serial numbers |
| Oversight body | Independent Police Investigative Directorate |
For residents and businesses in the area, the incident brings renewed attention to the allegations of extortion that prompted the operation. However, the information released so far does not indicate whether the alleged activity formed part of a wider investigation or whether further arrests are expected.
- Three men were killed in the shootout.
- Police said the men were allegedly collecting money from local shops.
- Three pistols with filed-off serial numbers were recovered.
- IPID is investigating the deaths linked to police action.
The deceased remain unidentified in the available police account. The circumstances of the shooting will now be subject to the relevant investigative process, with IPID examining the police action and the evidence gathered at the scene.
