Nelspruit – Five suspects were wounded during a shootout with police in the Mpumalanga town of Ogies when officers thwarted a planned supermarket robbery on Thursday morning, the province's police said.
In a statement, police spokesperson, Brigadier Leonard Hlati, said officers were tipped off to the robbery and made their way to the supermarket.
"Immediately when the men noticed the police, they opened fire at them and police were compelled to retaliate. They managed to corner and arrest seven of the group members, confiscating five firearms while some managed to abscond the scene in the process," said Hlati.
"Out of the seven suspects, five were wounded during the shootout and therefore had to be hospitalised under police guard, whilst two are in police custody."
A manhunt was launched for the suspects who managed to evade arrest, he said.
The suspects face charges of attempted business robbery, attempted murder, and possession of unlicensed firearms and ammunition.
"The team of men in blue further seized a white getaway motor vehicle of the suspects which was mounted with wrong number plates. The vehicle was loaded with equipment which is used in the commission of housebreakings."