DURBAN - Police officers who were held in a dramatic hostage stand-off at the Ntuzuma police station in Durban have been temporarily withdrawn from active operation.
This is to allow them to undergo psychological sessions and debriefing before they can return to their duties.
The suspect, who was being processed for attempted murder, managed to overpower one of the police officers and took his firearm.
He then proceeded to hold several other officers hostage.
READ | Man shot dead after hostage stand-off at KZN police station
"Because he had the gun and he had the keys, he locked the main door of the cells. As he continued shooting, looking for the members who were hiding inside there," said KZN police spokesperson Robert Netshiunda.
The stand-off ordeal is said to have lasted about 45 minutes before hostage negotiators were called to diffuse the situation.
During that time, SAPS members were able to infiltrate the area where the suspect had positioned himself, and he was shot dead.
"No officer was shot, but we've got two officers who were slightly injured during the scuffle, but not through gunshots," Netshiunda added.