Delmas - Four armed robbers and a police officer died during a shootout on Monday evening along the Secunda-Delmas road in Mpumalanga.
The Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation, better known as the Hawks, on Tuesday said armed suspects were travelling in several cars including a Mercedes Benz. The armed suspects were apparently about to rob an SBV Cash in Transit vehicle when the deadly shooting ensued.
Hawks provincial spokeswoman Dineo Segotodi said a joint operation was set up after police received a tip-off about the planned robbery.
Segotodi said the shootout happened at about 5pm.
“Four suspects died on the scene, five suspects were arrested… three of them were detained in the cells and two at a hospital.”
Police officers pursuing the robbers crashed their car. “One member passed away and two others were seriously injured and airlifted to hospital,” said Segotodi.
Police recovered four motor vehicles, two AK47 rifles, an R5 assault rifle and two pistols. One of the recovered pistols had been reported stolen in Marble Hall.
Segotodi said one of the robbers was identified as a sacked police officer, formerly based at Secunda Police Station. The policeman was fired after he was arrested for an attempted robbery on the same route on which he died.
Sekotodi said investigations were continuing. The arrested suspects face murder and attempted robbery charges.
African News Agency