A police officer has succumbed to his injuries after the deadly shooting which took place in Rosettenville Johannesburg South. On Monday, the South African Police Service (SAPS), along with other law enforcement officials, followed a group of suspects who were making their way to commit a cash-in-transit heist. A shoot-out ensued between the police and the armed suspects.
Eight of the suspects were shot and killed on the scene. Four police officers were critically wounded and ten suspects were arrested. Among the list of suspects are two police officers who are believed to have been part of the group of 25 men involved in the shoot-out with the police.
A Botswana man is believed to have been the mastermind of the foiled cash-in-transit heist. The group of suspects had a safe-house at The Hill, South of Johannesburg. Five stolen cars were kept at the resident house. The house is allegedly owned by a Nigerian.
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The team of 25 armed suspects comprised of one man from Botswana who is believed to be the mastermind, four South Africans from KwaZulu-Natal and 20 Zimbabweans. The Botswana national is believed to be among the ten suspects who have been arrested.
“About 100 bullets were found on the scene, as well as 12 rifles that were being used by criminals to shoot at the police,” the police watchdog said. Independent Police Investigation Directorate, Grace Langa, said the police are still on the hunt for more suspects involved in the deadly shooting. Langa added that one of the arrested suspects is linked to several cash-in-transit heists which happened across the country.
Source: IOL, Times Live, Sowetan and image from Times Live
