The alleged gang members had been terrorising the residents of Imbali.
When they noticed the police they opened fire.
Two of the deceased were women and six guns were found at the scene.
Police minister Bheki Cele travelled to the scene of the shootout and spoke to the media. Photo credit: GCIS/FlickrSource: UGC
15 of the escaped prisoners have still not been tracked down by the police.
The prisoners were being transported from prison to the Pietermaritzburg MagistratesCourt.
Five gunmen forced the prisoner transport off the road and they proceeded to free the prisoners.
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The men were being charged with a range of violent crimes.
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The suspects reacted by opening fire on a Toyota Fortuner forcing it to stop.
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