By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
Four suspected armed robbers were shot dead during a shootout with police in Harding, KwaZulu-Natal, after they robbed a businessman on Monday morning.
SAPS spokesperson in KZN, Colonel Robert Netshiunda, said a businessman went into a bank inside the mall and withdrew an undisclosed amount of money and as he made his way out of the mall, he was accosted by the suspects who robbed him of the cash.
He added that police approached the suspects who had just committed the robbery and the suspects defied police’s orders to stop and opened fire.
“Police returned fire and four suspects were fatally wounded during the shootout,” Netshiunda said.
He said police are still searching for remaining suspects.
“A firearm as well as the money which was robbed was found in possession of the suspects,” Netshiunda said.
Anyone with information regarding the whereabouts of the suspects is urged to contact the nearest police station or call the crime stop number 08600 10111.
Meanwhile SAPS says it remains relentless in its pursuit to dismantle the trade in counterfeit and illicit goods nationwide.
On Friday, the National Counterfeit Goods Unit led an operation in the Johannesburg CBD which resulted in the arrest of two Chinese nationals and the seizure of counterfeit goods with an estimated value of R5.8 million.
Police also arrested two Ethiopian nationals for contravening the Immigration Act No. 13 of 2002 during the operation.
Almost 7 000 counterfeit items imitating well-known brands were seized, which included sports apparel, clothing, shoes, perfumes, sunglasses, watches and bags.
The team comprised SAPS members from various specialised units, officials from the South African Revenue Service (SARS), Gauteng Traffic’s Saturation Unit, Brand Protectors, Crime Prevention Wardens and private security.
In the past eight months, the National Counterfeit Unit, in collaboration with its various crime fighting partners, seized over R400 million worth of counterfeit and illicit goods during various takedown operations in different parts of the country. The unit was established in November last year.