Brutal justice for nine gang-rape thugs who sexually assaulted young girl in front of her mother as South African cops shoot them all dead in raid

A police tactical firearms team in South Africa shot dead nine members of a brutal gang suspected of raping a young girl in front of her screaming mother.

Swift justice was handed out when the elite unit was ordered by top brass to find the eleven men who had put their victim through such a sickening ordeal.

The ruthless gang based near Durban, KwaZulu-Natal province, is believed to be behind a series of serious crimes including murder and armed robbery.

But when shocking details emerged from the mother of the sexually tortured girl who was repeatedly raped during a house robbery, officials ordered a crackdown on the criminal group.

Officers from the crack KZN Provincial Stabilisation Team were mobilised when a tip-off came through that the feared gang was planning a hit on a rival boss.

A woman reacts after identifying the body of a family member killed during a police raid

Forensic workers examine the scene where suspected criminals were killed during a police raid in Marianhill near Durban

The ruthless gang based near Durban, KwaZulu-Natal province, is believed to be behind a series of serious crimes including murder and armed robbery

The unit was dropped off close to a house identified as the gang HQ in Desai, Mariannhill, but mistakenly in the dark had surrounded the wrong address.

A lookout alerted the gang members inside who opened fire on the police unit, but the officers quickly regrouped and started firing back.

Within minutes nine gang members lay dead.

Police are hunting the two known remaining members who either escaped or who were not present, relaying the news to the rape victim and her mother.

KZN police spokesperson Colonel Robert Netshiunda said: 'The Provincial Stabilisation Team pounced on the gang in the early hours of Wednesday morning.

'The suspects had been on our radar for serious and violent crimes but then allegedly raped a young girl and made her mother watch during a house robbery.

'The shoot-out happened when we received intelligence that the gang were plotting to execute a hit on a rival so an action plan was quickly put into place.

'Nine gang members were shot dead and three firearms have so far been found in their possession and a manhunt for two suspects is underway' he said.

Within minutes nine gang members lay dead, and their family members were forced to identify their bodies 

Police are hunting the two known remaining members who either escaped or who were not present, relaying the news to the rape victim and her mother

Colonel Netshiunda confirmed the wrong house was approached but said: 'Our team tactically retaliated and neutralised the threat with no injuries to us'.

The unit was also in action in Durban last week when sent to an address where a gang wanted for a string of murders was said to be holed up and surrounded it.

The gang opened fire and the police retaliated killing all four suspects inside.

South African Police are currently waging a war on gangs who are engaged in a deadly battle for territory and control of the drugs, liquor and prostitution market.

Every day in South Africa there are 75 murders and 120 rapes mainly carried out between rival gangs and in the impoverished areas where police rarely venture.

South African Police are currently waging a war on gangs who are engaged in a deadly battle for territory and control of the drugs, liquor and prostitution market

An elite firearm unit shot dead a gang of 9 suspected of the gang rape of a young girl in front of her mother and other serious crimes in Durban

A South African Police detective based in Durban said: 'This group had been pushing and pushing for a while and this horrific gang rape was just the final straw.

'It happened just before info came in to where the gang could be found so the green light was given to arrest them but they made a mistake in opening fire first.

'The response was instant and when the shooting stopped 9 of those inside were dead' he said.

X users showed little sympathy with one saying: 'I feel sorry for the parents. But those m*****f***kers had to die'.

Another said: 'Case closed – beautiful work' and Bongani Kunene said: 'Good riddance. Terrorising our community. Fantastic job KZN police'.