A man suspected of involvement in the murder of a top KwaZulu-Natal policeman was shot dead during an attempted escape at the weekend, police said on Monday.

Superintendent Jay Naicker said the man was arrested in Umgubaba on the province's south coast on Saturday night and was being transported to a police station.

"He was handcuffed and seated in the back seat, but managed to put his hands around the driver and tried to strangle him," said Naicker.

"There was a struggle and the other policeman in the car shot the suspect. He died at the scene."

Five others also believed to have been part of the gang that shot dead Superintendent Zethembe Choncho in an ambush in August have also been killed by police.

Two suspects were shot dead in Mandeni in September as police were trying to arrest them. They allegedly pointed firearms at police — who returned fire, killing them.

Two other suspects, Magojela Ndimande and Sibusiso Thokozani Tembe, were killed during a pointing out procedure a few days earlier.

A fifth member of the group, 28-year-old Lee Buthelezi was killed by police in KwaDukuza at the start of September.

In each of the cases, police claim the suspects had attempted to escape and had pointed firearms at them.

Police had also been heeding a call by safety and security MEC Bheki Cele who urged officers to "shoot to kill" if criminals pointed guns at them.

Sapa