Newark police received a tip-off around 18:30 that the Manchester farm was being used as a storage site for dagga. Four policemen went to the farm to investigate and on arrival they were confronted outside the homestead by six men armed with knives and sticks. One of the men, Vincent "Gumede" Ndimande, pulled out a firearm and shot Constable Thobile Gaza in the chest once. He also fired several shots at Constable Mark Sindicich, 35, hitting him in the arms and shoulder. Ndimande then held his firearm at Sindicich's forehead and ordered the wounded officer's colleagues to leave the farm. One of the policemen, Inspector Hans Mahardood, managed to pull out his service pistol and shot Ndimande in the chest. Gaza was rushed to Stanger hospital where she died almost immediately after arrival