Durban - Two men linked to a KwaZulu-Natal gang suspected of 100 cases of housebreaking, business robbery and car theft were unable to appear in court on Tuesday because they are in hospital, nursing wounds from a shoot-out with police.
The same shooting also claimed the life of the gang’s leader, a notorious suspected criminal and murder accused.
The shooting and the arrests at the weekend follow a joint operation by the Combined Action Team and the Hawks, who have been hunting the gang for the past three months.
Derrick Williams and Sbongiseni Morikeng were charged in absentia with five counts of attempted murder of police officers and the attempted theft of a vehicle on April 30 in Townbush Road, in Pietermaritzburg’s upmarket suburb of Montrose.
They have also been charged with the unlawful possession of three firearms and ammunition.
Police believe the gang had been involved in the estimated 100 cases in Pietermaritzburg, its surrounds and the Midlands since January.
On Saturday, two of the gang members, Ian Williams, the gang’s leader, and Zwazi Ngubo, were shot dead.
The gang leader’s brother, Derrick Williams, and Morikeng were injured. They are currently in hospital under heavy police guard.
Their case has been adjourned until Thursday.
The Combined Action Team and the Hawks had traced the gang to Montrose, where it had allegedly been targeting a car parked at the Keg and Hedgehog restaurant.
Officers pounced and it is alleged that gang members opened fire on the police while trying to flee.
Police returned fire, leading to the death of Ian Williams and Ngubo, and the injury of two others.
In the gang’s car - a White VW Golf 7 belonging to Ian Williams - police allegedly found 12 computer boxes for various cars, a jamming device, a police radio, housebreaking implements and three 9mm pistols with live rounds.
According to police involved in the case, on an average night the gang would strike at least three properties or vehicles.
It is believed they targeted flat screen televisions, laptops and jewellery from homes.
In the car theft racket, the gang allegedly targeted Toyota Fortuners, Toyota D4D diesel bakkies and Volkswagen Polos.
The gang was also alleged to be behind an armed robbery at the Natal Wholesale Jewellers store at the Liberty Mall in April.
In 2014 the Daily News reported Ian Williams was believed to be the ringleader of a car theft syndicate and appeared in court charged with the theft of 15 vehicles alongside 10 accomplices, including his brother, Derrick.
The syndicate members were arrested following a two-year long undercover police operation headed by Pietermaritzburg’s Hawks and Crime Intelligence.
The Daily News also recently reported that Williams had been standing trial in the Pietermaritzburg High Court for the murder of Tyron Terry in 2012.
Williams allegedly shot Terry in the head a day after the two men were involved in an apparent road rage altercation.
The two men exchanged words after Williams cut in front of Terry while driving.
It is believed Williams then tracked down Terry to his home in Imbali, where he allegedly shot him in the back of his head while he stood in his garden. Williams pleaded not guilty and the trial was due to resume later this year.
Daily News