By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
At least nine suspects involved in a cash-in-transit heist, were shot dead during a shootout with police early this morning in Sebokeng in the Emfuleni Local Municipality in Gauteng.
Initially eight of the suspected robbers were killed and the ninth died of his injuries in hospital.
The vehicles were traced to a home in Golden Gardens, in Sebokeng, where a bloody gun battle ensued between police and 12 suspected cash-in-transit robbers.
Police spokesperson Brigadier Athlenda Mathe says the gang have been terrorising CIT vans in Gauteng.
“These suspects are believed to be behind a spate of cash in transit heists in Gauteng and surrounding areas,” she said.
Six rifles, explosives, ammunition, and bullet vests were recovered on the scene, following the incident.
The incident follows a brazen cash-in-transit heist in Putfotein on Wednesday, where two innocent bystanders were killed and another wounded.
Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Police Department (EMPD) spokesperson Ignatius Maphike said one of the guards was injured during the robbery.
“One Fidelity security guard was injured on the arm due to the collision. Two bystanders were shot dead by the robbers, while they were taking videos of the heist with their phones. One bystander was shot in the arm.
“One of vehicles belonging to the suspects caught fire,” Maphike said.
Maphike added that the suspects getaway vehicle was recovered about 500 meters away from the crime scene.
Police minister Bheki Cele said he is confident that police are making serious inroads in the fight against serious and violent crime.
“If they come hard on us, we came harder on them, it’s them and us on behalf of the community. We can’t co-govern, we can’t rule with criminals. We are asserting the authority of the state on behalf of our communities,” said Cele.