KwaZulu-Natal - A cash-in-transit security guard and an armed robber have died in a shoot-out at a bank in Empangeni.
The shoot-out happened when four armed men attacked security guards who were collecting cash from a bank on Wednesday, said provincial police spokesman, Colonel Jay Naicker.
He said security guards had collected an undisclosed amount of money when the four shot at them, fatally wounding one.
“The guards returned fire, fatally wounding one of the suspects who had robbed them,” Naicker said.
“The remaining three suspects sped off in their get-away vehicle, leaving the money and their dead accomplice behind.”
Naicker said the Empangeni K9 Unit and members of the Ntambanana SAPS responded to a report of a robbery and spotted the robbers’ getaway vehicle.
“When they ordered the vehicle to stop, the suspects opened fire on police. Police officers returned fire, and two of the suspects were wounded in the ensuing shoot-out. The wounded suspects were arrested, while a third fled on foot,” he said.
An AK-47 assault rifle and two 9mm pistols were recovered from the robbers.
Naicker said the injured suspects, who are 28 and 37 years old, were taken to hospital for treatment and were under police guard.
“They will be charged for robbery with aggravating circumstances, murder, attempted murder and possession of unlicensed firearms and ammunition. They will appear in the Empangeni Magistrate’s Court soon.”
Naicker said an intensive search had been launched for the outstanding robber, and police were confident of making an arrest. - Daily News